










Class __B_ 

Book__ 

Copyright N°_ 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 








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The Shadows of the Trees 

From the original in colors by Annie Benson Muller 





MOSAICS of TRUTH 

IN NATURE 


BY 

ETTA MERRICK GRAVES 

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BOSTON 

SHERMAN, FRENCH # COMPANY 

1913 




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COPYRIGHT, 1913 
Sherman, French & Company 


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TO 

MY BELOVED MOTHER 

WHOSE LIFE WAS AND IS 
A CONSTANT INSPIRATION 
AND BENEDICTION TO ALL 
WHOM IT TOUCHED, THESE 
GLIMPSES OF TRUTH ARE 
LOVINGLY INSCRIBED BY 
HER “ WHITE ROSE” 





FOREWORD 


There are moments in the life of each of us 
in which come glimpses of Truth in bits of 
radiance, which when put together as a whole, 
form Mosaics of Truth in our lives. We 
cannot claim such glimpses as coming from 
ourselves on the purely natural plane of in¬ 
tellectual perception. The glimpses which 
come from “ spiritual mountain tops,” as it 
were, are of a deeper, more hidden inner life 
than reason can rightly call its own making. 
The spirit within us has communed with 
Truth from the unseen Source of Truth, and 
through the clouds of earthly vision we catch 
the light of heaven. 

If, in such moments of clear, inner seeing 
of the spirit, one sits down quietly, and, with¬ 
out endeavoring to frame words, will let the 
words “ come of themselves ” through the 
hand upon the written page, it is as though 
the soul imprinted itself on the white paper. 
The act of writing is guided by the mind, but 
is led by the spirit to express the spirit’s clear 
vision of Truth as it sees it from the heights. 
The act seems such a solemn moment of com¬ 
munion, that one hesitates to turn back to 


FOREWORD 


read the written words, lest the cold paper 
come between the act and the glowing vision 
which guided the hand; lest, also, the mind 
claim the Mosaics of Truth as its own crea¬ 
tion, and pride creep in to drive away the 
glimpses in the future. 

Have you never read beautiful lines and ex¬ 
claimed, 44 That is just what I have thought, 
but could not express it as beautifully ”? 

The vision was yours, but you had not trained 
your mind and hand to let your soul impress 
itself on the paper. That was the only differ¬ 
ence. Poor mortals that we are to let the ma¬ 
terialism of the world step in and limit our 
ability to portray our gleams of Truth to oth¬ 
ers. 

“ Quench not the spirit ” should be our 
motto. 44 What God has cleansed, call not thou 
common.” Take your own visions of Truth, 
small and imperfect though they be, and de¬ 
spise them not by calling them 44 your own ” 
and not worthy of expression. That which 
God gives as thy message to the world, that use 
thou, for He has 44 cleansed it” and it is no 
longer 44 common,” for it is not thine own, but 
from Him. 

These Mosaics 44 came ” to me at intervals 
and I transcribed them, at first, to help a 
friend. As a girl leaving the teens, life was 
full of problems to solve and, as if in answer, 


FOREWORD 


these truths came to me. Whenever possible, 
I would go off alone into the heart of nature 
to 44 impress my soul on paper.” If I did not 
at once obey the inner prompting to write, the 
vision faded. It could not be intellectually 
46 recalled ” as a 44 thought ” could have been in 
connection with other lines of writing. 

This lesson was impressed upon me, I remem¬ 
ber, at the first in this way: 

The outline of a truth always came as a 
whole, for detail of expression grew only dur¬ 
ing the writing. One day I held it a while in 
consciousness, then put it aside till I 44 had 
more time ”! Later, alas, I discovered that it 
had entirely gone from me and never returned! 
There only remained a feeling of having 44 lost ” 
something. A cloud, as it were, hid it from my 
inner sight. It was not mine, for it had been 
offered to me and I had rejected it! 

This may seem strange to some who read 
this, but to many it will show the workings of 
the spirit within each of us, whatever may be 
the name we give it. 

I send these Mosaics of Truth forth in the 
form in which they first came to me, though 
not in the order of time — which has been a 
period of some ten years of searching for 
Truth. The name stands as given to note¬ 
books at first, when no idea of a book-form en¬ 
tered into it. 


FOREWORD 


Whatever the reader may gain of help, or 
whatever parts may appeal as Truth, that ac¬ 
cept in the reverend spirit with which the book 
is offered. And may he learn that, by being 
himself receptive to the “ inner voice,” he will 
be led to the heights of the spirit whence Truth 
shines for all who have spiritual “ eyes to see.” 

Etta Merrick Graves. 


Milton, Massachusetts. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Life’s Mosaics. 



1 

The Star of Promise .... 



6 

The Flowers’ Giving 



9 

Each in its Season .... 



13 

The Web of Friendship . 

Beyond the Horizon the Sun 

IS 

Still 

18 

Shining. 



22 

“ In Tune with the Infinite ” 

• 

• • 

24 

Footsteps in the Snow. 

Beneath the Ice the River is Still Flow- 

26 

ing. 



29 

Sowing Wheat. 



32 

God’s Benediction .... 



34 

God’s Good-night. 



37 

The Sun Never Sets .... 



39 

The Undertow. 

• 

• • 

40 

“ The Shadows of the Trees ” . 

• 

• • 

42 

In the Great Heart of a Redwood 

Tree 

45 

Sweetness and Strength 

• 

• • 

48 

The Hero of the Forest 

• 

• • 

52 

The Autumn of Life 

• 

• • 

56 

The Harvest. 



59 

The Hidden Life. 



62 

Jeweled Radiance of Heaven . 

• 

• • 

65 















PAGE 


Fate .71 

The Sun Chariot of the Imagination . 73 

In the Garden of God.76 

Reflections — God’s Mirror .... 78 

Evil Seeds and Good Ground . . . .81 

The Soul’s Magnetism.84 

Self-Abasement and Self-Conceit . . 89 

The Gifts of the Talents.92 

Thank You, Old Year.95 

Welcome, New Year.97 

The Sensitive Vase.100 

Fear — the Weapon of Evil .... 104 

The Soul’s Battles.106 

“ Blessed are the Pure in Heart ” . . . 108 

God’s in His Earth .Ill 

Knots in Life’s Thread.114 

“Father, We Thank Thee” .... 117 







MOSAICS OF TRUTH 
IN NATURE 


t 


















LIFE’S MOSAICS 


As we go through life we are ever gathering 
tiny stones of color and real value to set in the 
finished Mosaic of life’s great design. 

Our inner eye sees this tiny jewel — which 
to the man’s bodily eye seems but shining glass; 
but seeing that it will be of value in the central 
setting, the Soul within us carefully gathers it. 

Thus the man takes and uses some tiny par¬ 
ticles which he may recognize at once as valu¬ 
able. Others may be given him which he fain 
would cast by the wayside as burdensome ; yet 
he keeps them — he knows not why. Only 
God knows the real value or worthlessness of 
each. Yet He allows man to choose for him¬ 
self while offering him only those of great 
value. 

Thus the tiny life gems are gathered:—some 
are of delicate coloring or mingled perhaps with 
the tints of others with which it has come in 
contact in opalescent splendor. Others, pure, 
clear, and sparkling, shine forth brilliantly, 
radiating the clear light of the sun, undimmed 
by earth’s shadows. 

Others may have a deep, fiery glov — tell- 

1 


2 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


ing of unusually violent struggles, but shining 
by the glorious light of victory won! 

Still others may glow softly with the golden 
light of sunny days, or show dark days of 
storm or cloud. 

Some are tiny, but of rare value. Others 
larger and more showy, but of less transparent 
glory of color. Some are regular in shape 
— wrought carefully by patient labor from 
resisting circumstance. Others which prom¬ 
ised to give a beautiful jewel are left ragged 
and unfinished. For some reason, we were not 
allowed to finish; or perhaps we were too eager 
to begin on another! 

Thus God who sees the finished design, 
guides the man, who truly seeks, in choosing of 
the right stones. Then the time comes when 
the man sees the forming of all these units to 
make a complete whole. 

In man’s own conception he may have seen 
a design for which he thought his gems of the 
past and present were to be used. A beauti¬ 
ful design it might have been, had he been able 
to complete it as he thought. 

But God has not disturbed the man’s con¬ 
ception of it till the right time has come for 
deciding where and what the central stone, and 
consequent color scheme, shall be. 

It may come at a time when a sudden light 
of truth reveals the far off scene in its com- 


LIFE’S MOSAICS 


3 


pletion. And, ah! the supreme happiness of 
that vision — which may fade in the gathering 
clouds of difficulties. 

Or it may come when the man sees the fail¬ 
ure of the work he has undertaken, and, losing 
courage, sinks down, aimless, ready to cease 
striving. The clouds are so thick that he sees 
no light in the direction in which he seeks it. 
What shall he do! 

The man’s Soul still sees the light; but how 
shall it comfort the downhearted man, if the 
light lies in another direction from that in 
which he is looking. 

A friend who catches a glimpse of that light 
says, “ Turn this way! ” He turns, but shakes 
his head. He cannot take the guidance of that 
light. He must still wait for the dawning of 
the gleam for which he longs. 

So he waits, and tries to gather up the gems; 
but they will not form the design which he saw 
in the glory of his own conception. Why did 
he not shape this one differently? Why did 
he keep this color — it seems to be out of har¬ 
mony with the rest! “ Why keep them at 

all?”—he finally asks in his desperation. 

They can never amount to anything sep¬ 
arately, and I can never put them together! 
The world is already filled with good designs of 
the very material with which I am hopelessly 
struggling! ” 



4 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


Slowly the new light of truth enters the dark¬ 
ened field of vision. Softly, still dim, that the 
weary eyes be not blinded. Slowly the man 
begins to see a new design — the true design 
— for which he unconsciously was gathering his 
jewels. 

Now the units form themselves before him 
in a perfect whole,' no longer failing to fit into 
their right place or to break the harmony. 
“ He sees the whole design! ” The Lord 
has won the man’s whole purpose, for man has 
accepted the light that leads along a new path. 

Yet he hesitates still. He thinks of the path 
he has followed so long and looks back with 
longing. He thinks of the friends he met who 
were choosing like gems for a common purpose. 
He must tell them of the new light that calls 
him away from them, and dreads to make the 
separation. 

The light, however, is urgent. It must claim 
the follower’s unity of purpose, and may de¬ 
mand the sacrifice for the sake of the greater 
glory it promises. 

The last step, however, is taken in the old 
path. The next step turns aside into the new 
way, and on every side lie new gems to be added 
to the store already gathered, for the old is 
invaluable in the new design. 

Thus we gather our Mosaics of life on the 
path in which our own vision of truth leads us. 


LIFE’S MOSAICS 


5 


Follow the light you now have, faithfully, un¬ 
swervingly, while it shines. It may often be 
darkened; but grope along the path while you 
have strength. If that is still to be your light 
it will shine out again; but if, however, the way 
remains dark beyond your strength, open your 
eyes to be receptive in receiving a new vision 
of the light of truth which is surely shining 
near you, and calling you to gather new Mo¬ 
saics for your life’s grand design. 



4 


THE STAR OF PROMISE 


For several days the storm’s path has hid 
the light of the sun. In vain have we looked 
for a lessening of the gloom, as the skies have 
poured forth their gathered store from reser¬ 
voirs of clouds. 

The dial shows that the period belonging 
to daylight has ended, so the darkness deep¬ 
ens, and with it the rain ceases. 

Who shall say where the firmament lies? It 
seems to have shut itself within a canopy of 
darkness, made more evident by the glaring, 
artificial lights of a busy city. 

“ No stars tonight! ” None? You are look¬ 
ing too low on the horizon. Look straight above 
you! There, shining bright and clear, is a 
single star! A star of promise! What need 
of more to assure the weary watcher that there 
is an infinite number of stars shining above the 
clouds, merely waiting to shine through? 

One star has found a tiny place through 
which to send down a welcome light. The 
storm is lifting! And the faint light of the 
star gives promise of the sun’s radiance for the 
morrow. 

“ One star cannot illumine the heavens,” you 

6 


THE STAR OF PROMISE 


7 


say? “ Wait until there is no cloud before we 
may be sure that the storm will not linger 
longer. And why should we predict the sun 
in a day that has not dawned, by reason of one 
tiny star ? ” 

Oh, friend! Why not accept the promise 
God gives in the slightest ray of light sent in 
the darkness! Would we prize that one star 
as highly if it shone in company with a host of 
others in a larger opening through the clouds? 

God never promises that which He cannot ful¬ 
fill. And with even the one star He can scat¬ 
ter the hosts of barrier clouds, and fill a cloud¬ 
less sky with an infinite number of lights. 
Then with the dawn of Day He will not hide 
from us the glory of His Sun. 

How often in trouble, sorrow, perplexity, 
doubt or poverty, we fasten our eyes on the 
existing conditions of darkness below, and com¬ 
plain that the “ stars do not shine ”! Have 
you looked directly above you, to see whether 
you could find even one star shining through 
your gloom? In it there is a promise for you. 
If you neglect to recognize its message of com¬ 
ing light, you are still more desolate, while the 
darkness seems more despairing. Fix your 
eyes on that tiny gleam, and as you look stead- 
ily, you will catch the light of other stars shin¬ 
ing through the widening space in your clouds 
of discontent. 


8 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


Do not wait till you see no cloud whatever in 
your evening sky before you begin to hope. 
Above you may be the steady light of the 
guiding North Star by which alone you may 
steer your course. What matter if you catch 
sight of a multitude of changing lights, if the 
star you need holds back its light above the 
clouds ? 

Then look for the Star of Promise. Look 
for it night after night in time of storm. It 
may appear when you have given up the search, 
and then how can its rays reach eyes that are 
blind? Not even the sun itself could bring 
light to such an one! 

But to each of us is sent, in some part of the 
heavens, a Star of Promise. Have you found 
yours ? 


THE FLOWERS’ GIVING 


The flowers’ life consists in giving, and the 
fullness of their life is in proportion to the 
abundance of their giving. 

Each flower opens its bud to share with the 
world the life shut up within it. It gives 
abroad to the air the fragrance with which it 
is endowed. It radiates the sunshine it has 
stored — through the beauty of its coloring. 
All this it gives of its own free will. It gives 
because of its very nature. The moment it 
ceases to give, it withers and dies! 

The flowers give. But is their generosity 
lost? Giving never fails to bring a rich har¬ 
vest to the true giver. 

Deep in its heart the little flower has stored 
its richest treasure. The gift of fragrance 
and of beauty it sends forth to the superficial 
observer. These may be had without the seek¬ 
ing, but the gift in its heart may be found only 
by those who know how to enter the storehouse 
— past the pollen gates. 

All day long the flower houses are being 
visited by multitudes of tiny visitors — each 
seeking the hidden treasures in the honey 
chambers. 


9 



10 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


No one who asks aright is ever refused a 
tiny portion. Yet, as each leaves, he is asked 
to carry to the next door neighbor a golden 
grain of pollen, to exchange greetings of friend¬ 
ship. As he enters the neighbor’s pollen gates 
he leaves the friend’s token with the pistil who 
guards the entrance of the house within. 

As each gift is received it is sent in to the 
inmates, who never see the light, and who, but 
for these tokens, would soon pine away and die. 
As these gifts pour in, they enlarge their little 
green house to receive them, till, unable to hold 
the ripening seeds of friendship, they open 
their doors — now turned brown in the sun¬ 
shine’s rays of love — and scatter the blessings 
they have received. 

Are we, like the flowers, living through giv¬ 
ing? Each one has been given some external 
gift to share with the superficial passerby. 
Gifts are they which we cannot hide as long 
as we possess and care for them; but within 
each heart God has given a treasure-house 
filled with blessings to be shared with those who 
wish to enter. 

Do we refuse admittance? The friendly 
visitor has a message for you that he has car¬ 
ried from another friend near by. As he en¬ 
ters he leaves the message with the gate-keeper 
of your character. He seeks to enjoy the 
sweetness which is stored within your heart. 


THE FLOWERS’ GIVING 


11 


It was never given you to keep to yourself. It 
was given you to share, and thus to attract the 
friendly visitors who bring messages from with¬ 
out you. 

Of themselves the treasures that you possess 
can avail you nothing, save as you share them. 
If you refuse admittance to them, visitors will 
soon cease to come, and your character will 
shrivel up. You will never be able to ripen the 
indwelling possibilities, and become of value to 
the world. 

Each flower may choose with whom it may 
share its honeyed treasures. It dresses itself in 
the garb which best attracts the visiting friends. 
It shapes its mansion and places its treasures 
in order to enable those to enter, who, in like 
manner, have best adapted themselves to seek 
and possess the friend’s offering. 

Some flowers dress in modest white, but add 
a fragrance of wonderful sweetness. Others 
choose brilliant colors and with spicy, pungent, 
or little fragrance rely upon their showy dress 
to attract the attention of the visitors they 
wish. 

Some offer their treasures in dainty, shallow 
cups — easy of access to larger numbers of 
visitors. Others sink them in deep vase forms, 
where only a chosen few, with long, slender arms 
may grasp the hidden sweetness. 

Thus each of us may choose with whom we 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


1 % 

may share our heart’s best treasures. Some 
may seek to enter who have no means of finding 
the hiding place, even after they have success¬ 
fully passed the outer gates. Others with no 
friendly greeting may not be allowed even to 
pass the doorkeeper, and so must go on their 
way to seek elsewhere. 

Those who do enter may feast on the 
treasure sweets, according to the abundance 
that the host has stored, then go their way re¬ 
freshed, while the owner has been enriched an 
hundredfold by the friendly exchange of gifts. 

Character is ripened only by the flower’s way 
of giving — thus receiving in greater fullness. 
Seeds of kindness can swell into maturity in the 
sunshine of love, by giving of the best that the 
house affords to those who seek. 

Thus, when the Harvest Time shall come, 
each shall be asked to reveal the stores that he 
has gained, through giving. And according 
to the faithfulness of each shall come the reward 
of our “ floral giving.” 


EACH IN ITS SEASON 


Every tree, shrub and flower blooms in its 
appointed season, and every season is filled with 
the life of its time. Even to cold winter, who 
hides its seed treasures deep below the white 
snow coverlets. Perhaps it fears it may de¬ 
stroy the glory Fall entrusted to its care to 
deliver safely into the waiting hands of Spring. 

With the first parting of the coverlets Spring 
tenderly takes the snowdrops — “ Winter’s 
timid child ”— into its lap. What a beautiful 
floral token it is of coming life — perfect in 
its purity and dress of spotless white! How 
could Nature more fitly usher in the life of the 
flower family? 

Then comes the silver gray of the pussy 
willow: 


“ Smoothing with its fair wands 
Nature’s ragged edges.” 

As Mother Earth prepares a way for each 
member of the flower family according to the 
needs of each, there comes the dainty violet: 

“ Fair as a star when only one 

Is shining in the sky.” 

13 


14 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


And, as Spring scatters her sunshine and 
refreshing showers with lavish hand, the earth 
is covered with gold and silver, as the butter¬ 
cup and daisy play together over field and hill¬ 
side 44 to tell of happy hours.” 

Then with the lengthening days, Nature’s 
time is devoted to fashioning the fairest of the 
flowers — the rose, 44 queen of every grove.” 

Nature, while filling the earth with floral 
beauty plans ever for the life of all, even to 
the smallest insect. Thus each flower, while 
drawing its nourishment from Mother Earth, 
must in return, spread a table for the air fam¬ 
ily, where 

“ the blythe bee sips 
From the purple, delicate cups of wine 
That he finds on the morning-glory vine.” 

While giving man these glories to enjoy in 
field and woodland, by sheltered nook or 44 up¬ 
land pasture,” Nature knows that many, who 
fain would seek them there, must stay in the 
haunts of men to gain their livelihood. So she 
sends the blue-eyed succory 

“ by the dusty road 
Where tired feet toil to and fro.” 

And that with its ever upward glance it may 
teach sin-laden and sorrow-worn passers-by to 

“ look toward a more tender blue.” 


EACH IN ITS SEASON 


15 


The days shorten, but Nature has worked 
well. Although the glory of Spring and Sum¬ 
mer has faded, she has been bearing the fruits 
of a well-spent past. Her arms are overflow¬ 
ing with the harvest stores which “ Autumn, 
benefactor kind,” has “ poured from out his 
lavish store.” 

Jack Frost is coming now to claim the land, 
and intends destruction. He must still, how¬ 
ever, view the effects of his evil deeds turned 
into Autumn’s glory. For 

“ October is an artist rare, 

He touches first the maple leaf 
Which biting frosts have brought to grief.” 

While over the brown earth shines forth the 
goldenrod —“ dear shadowed sunshine,” and 
her faithful follower, the purple aster. For 

“ Perhaps she knows her dainty dress 
Is just the color that your blossom needs.” 

Thus the glory of the flower world passes 
away. The abundance of the fruit world is 
stored for man’s use, and seeds of all kinds are 
scattered for future flowers. So, to cover the 
desolate earth, 

“ silent and soft and slow descends the snow.” 

Yet still, deep and warm 

“ Beneath the winter’s snow, 

Lie germs of summer’s flowers.” 


16 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


We, too, have our seasons, and we must take 
life’s good gifts, each in its season. 

Slowly life’s Spring-time advances, bringing 
one and another promise of flowers. We feel 
the life stirring within us, and long to hasten 
the opening of the buds. Still, if we lose the 
patience necessary to develop f;he flower in its 
season, we will destroy the glory we might 
otherwise enjoy, and the fruits it might have 
yielded. 

Nor should we long for the summer flowers 
when we might be enjoying the less brilliant 
and showy flowers of growing Spring. 

Or, if by too ardent longing for the fruits 
of Autumn, we devote too little time and care 
to the flowers as they come in their seasons, we 
lose both. And thus we enter on the Winter 
with no stores, and with but slight hope of 
Spring flowers for which we have scattered no 
seeds. 

Life is filled with opportunities which come, 
each in its season. If we take and cultivate 
even the most insignificant, those coming later 
will not lack the conditions necessary for their 
flowering and fruitage. 

So let us not complain of the season in which 
we are now growing, nor envy others the glory 
of their Summer-time. 

Each of us is a flower growing forever in 
God’s eternal seasons. Each one He has 


EACH IN ITS SEASON 


17 


planted in the earth in the place and time best 
fitted for us to grow and flower to complete 
His Floral Design. If we do not blossom, or 
if we fail to 44 bear much fruit,” we are depriv¬ 
ing His heavenly land of part of the glory 
we might have added if we had fulfilled our mis¬ 
sion — each in his Season. 


THE WEB OF FRIENDSHIP 


Where shall the web of friendship be spun? 

The little spider’s life is begun in a certain 
location, in Nature’s world. Shall she spin 
her own little web near that of the “ home 
web,” or shall she by choice or external cir¬ 
cumstances start it elsewhere? 

Wherever the web of friendship may be spun, 
its character depends on the little spider 
friend herself. It depends on her to what 
she shall fasten the slender threads radiating 
from herself, and from a common home center 
— where she dwells. 

This little spider lives in the fresh woods in 
the very heart of Nature’s world. Her first 
delicate threads have been attached to that 
which was nearest. And the delicate finger tips 
of tall mother pine hold many of the founda¬ 
tion threads of the little life reaching out into 
the wide world. 

Then, still seeking for support, the little 
spider finds growing about the loving pine 
many slender brother and sister saplings, 
around whose slender waists many silken 
threads are wound. 

Near by, lifting its head above the soft car- 

18 


THE WEB OF FRIENDSHIP 19 


pet of the home pine needles, stands the 
father boulder, braving the fiercest storms, 
unmoved. Kind-hearted it is beneath its hard, 
rough exterior, so that many green moss and 
lichen friends nestle close to him for pro¬ 
tection. Thus the little spider may confidently 
give into the boulder’s keeping many of her 
first foundation threads. 

Securely has the little spider laid the first 
threads of her friendship web in the home for¬ 
est. Yet she must still seek other friends to 
entrust with her ever-widening life-web. 

She finds a thistle whose downy blossom bids 
fair to be a friend, but on the touch of inti¬ 
macy it leaves the stinging wound of unkind¬ 
ness. Poor little spider! You have learned 
for the first time that something in the world 
forest may not be your friend! 

She falls to the earth, bruised and sad at 
heart, but ever as she falls she spins the thread 
of trust by which again she climbs to faith in 
the nature world. For although one may prove 
unworthy, are there not many still holding 
faithfully the tiny threads which form her 
friendship web? 

The pine, the sapling, the boulder, maple, 
oak and even grasses and flowers hold their 
ends of silken threads entrusted to them. 
Around their green houses is woven the spiral 
thread of life which touches each radiating 


20 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


friendship thread, and binds all into a perfect 
whole. In the center of friendship’s web is her 
home and loving ties. 

Each thread of friendship is distinct in it¬ 
self. The thread from the pine tip is not de¬ 
pendent upon the thread from that of the 
nearest tall maple tree or even the tiny flower 
at its feet. Each goes to the center which the 
spider guards, but she has bound all these 
friend-threads together by her spiral of life. 
Thus, while a friendship formed with the maple 
may not vitally be entered into between maple 
and flower, yet because of the spiral thread that 
crosses those that radiate, the vibration of one 
friend-thread must be felt throughout all the 
friendship web. Life is the sensitive thread 
responding to the touch of every part of friend¬ 
ship’s web. 

A storm of difficulties sweeps down upon the 
forest, destroying the web; yet, though it is 
torn away, the spider, weak and disheartened, 
is alive and unhurt. Bravely she again seeks 
to lay the first threads. Still stand the forest 
friends, unshaken in the storm. “ What shall 
hinder the formation of the web of friendship 
as before? ” thinks the spider. Perchance the 
grasses have formed a friendship with another 
spider, and are too engrossed in the new web 
to hold the thread of its former friend! 

Foolish grasses! One spider’s slender threads 


THE WEB OF FRIENDSHIP £1 


will not complete thy narrow life. Each web 
into whose making thou lendest thy life widens 
thine own powers of friendship. Each web 
holds the vibrations of other lives of the forest, 
w r ith whom thou couldst never come in touch 
w r ere it not through their messages carried by 
the slender vibrating threads of the web thou 
hast in thy sympathetic hold. 

As a tiny grass, thou couldst never know the 
power of the mighty pine, towering into the 
blue of a sky which is far above thine eye. 
The pine pulses with life that differs in expres¬ 
sion from that of the oak, the beech, the hem¬ 
lock, or even the shy wood flowers, yet all is one 
Life. Each pulsation that enters thy heart 
enriches it with the life of the forest friend 
from whence it came — whether or not that 
friend was conscious of the power it gave forth 
through the delicate spider’s web in its hold. 

Thus the little friendly spiders spin their 
webs throughout the nature world, binding to¬ 
gether unlike parts, that by the spiral of life, 
which joins friendship’s threads, all may be 
brought into a loving union which comes 
through friendship’s sympathetic touch. 


BEYOND THE HORIZON THE SUN IS 
STILL SHINING 


The sun is the light of the world. When 
it sets below the horizon it leaves in darkness 
the part of the world which has so lately seen 
it, but beyond that horizon the sun is still 
shining! 

We watch the sun as it sinks from sight be¬ 
hind the distant mountain. The earth seems 
to have opened and closed upon the giver of 
light. Yet, as it goes, it has never touched 
the earth, nor been altered in its course beyond 
our sight. It sends back golden rays of prom¬ 
ise which illumine the clouds above it. We 
see now only the clouds, but even they 
are brightened by the sun beyond the hori¬ 
zon, till, as it passes on beyond the sight of the 
clouds they grow dark and it becomes night 
indeed. 

No, not wholly dark, for the stars shine 
forth one by one through the long night, and 
perhaps in the east the clouds show silver, her¬ 
alding the approach of the full moon. It rises 
and follows after the sun, yet more slowly. It, 

too, sees the sun! It shines not of itself. 

22 


BEYOND THE HORIZON 


2 $ 


In every life there is light — a Soul that 
shines as the sun. When that Soul has run its 
course, it sinks beyond Life’s Horizon. The 
earth seems to take from our sight that which 
made the light of our day, but, in reality, be¬ 
yond the horizon that Soul is still shining! It 
has passed from us, but it continues on its way, 
unaltered. It illumines our clouds of sorrow by 
this promise of its onward course. It sees that 
which lies beyond our Horizon. Its light is 
not dimmed because we cease to see it, as our 
night of loneliness approaches. 

As the clouds darken, let us look for the star¬ 
light of friendship that begins to shine in our 
sky. We will never see it if we fix our eyes on 
the dark earth. 

In Life’s East shines a Light which speaks 
of the glory into which the departed Soul has 
risen. We are not left desolate, for it shines 
for us still, although by the reflected light of 
memory; while our love tells us that beyond 
Earth’s Horizon that Soul is still shining, in 
Heaven’s Light. 

The night of sorrow is not long. When it 
is over we shall see that Light in all its glory, 
in Heaven’s East. There, in Heaven’s endless 
Day, there shall be “ no more night,” for above 
the clouds of earth we shall see beyond Earth’s 
Horizon where God’s Light is ever shining. 


“ IN TUNE WITH THE INFINITE ” 


To stray far from the busy human sounds; 
to sink in quiet solitude ’neath a low-spreading 
tree on a wooded slope; to feel Nature’s heart 
pulsing with health and vigor as she holds her 
Earth’s child on her bosom. 

To look up through the waving leaves to 
the sky, and catch gems of blue with setting of 
golden sunshine. 

To listen to the melody of the wind in the 
trees, sung to the low accompaniment of Na¬ 
ture’s church-organ in the rich harmony of 
the distant ocean. 

To catch the faint strains of the never-end¬ 
ing chorus of tiny creatures amid the grass. 

To sit in silent rapture over a liquid solo 
from a songster in the leafy boughs, and join 
silently with grateful heart in Nature’s hymns 
of praise. 

To breathe deeply of Nature’s incense from 
trees, shrubs, and flowers. 

To see God’s arms outstretched in the branch¬ 
ing trees above. 

To feel God’s endless Love in the boundless 
blue of the heavens. 

To see His infinite Wisdom and Fatherly 

24 , 


“IN TUNE WITH THE INFINITE ” 25 


care in the protection of minute creatures of 
air and earth. 

To lose the human self in the Divine pres¬ 
ence. 

This indeed is to be “ in tune with the In¬ 
finite.” 


FOOTSTEPS IN THE SNOW 


The white world, covered with newly fallen 
snow lies before us. In which direction shall 
we make our path? Onward in the direction 
we were going before we sought shelter from 
the storm? Or shall we turn backward? 

Whichever way we turn we will leave behind 
us deep marks of foot-prints in the pure, un¬ 
trodden snow. Shall we make a steady straight 
line toward our destination? Or shall it be 
tortuous and uncertain? Now broken, as we 
turn to look wearily behind at the distance cov¬ 
ered? Or wavering from side to side as we are 
disappointed in the way we have taken? Not 
words are written, except by the magic writing 
of the snow, but the story of our journey is 
told in deep characters, to be read by the next 
pilgrim who shall study its meaning. 

The next pilgrim! Ah! Our journey is not 
taken alone. We do not tread the path merely 
for ourselves. If so, the responsibility of 
making our footsteps aright would end with 
us, and the problem be less great. 

The next pilgrim, struggling along the un¬ 
broken way, comes upon the deep prints you 

have made; and, grateful to find a lessening of 

26 


FOOTSTEPS IN THE SNOW 27 


the effort of making a new path, steps into 
that found ready and follows it! If it twists 
and turns or stops, he must keep his eyes fixed 
on the footprints, lest he miss one, or over¬ 
step the mark. He is not making his own 
choice, but following yours — however good 

or bad it may be-taking long or short steps 

as the need may be. 

“ Am I my brother’s keeper? ” You may not 
realize that you are, but some brother will cer¬ 
tainly be more or less influenced by the path 
you set before him. If he be weaker than 
you, you must be his guide. Yet even if he be 
stronger, your choice may seem good — and 
may be good at the start — but how can he tell 
where it will lead him? 

The footprints made by the first traveler, 
and followed by the next, and the next, are 
soon trodden down into a solid path, narrow 
at first, then widened out as the crowd increases. 
Thus the path becomes the acknowledged high¬ 
way — leading where ? As one and another 
pilgrim reaches his destination — good or ill 
— a sign post is raised that shows other pil¬ 
grims what would be their probable destination 
if they continued in the path on which they 
are traveling. 

There are many paths leading in all direc¬ 
tions. By carefully studying the signs, the 
pilgrim may turn aside from a path of wrong. 



28 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


The way over which he must go to return to 
a path of good may be long, but when it is 
finally reached, the pilgrim is more willing to 
follow where it leads, and more zealous in 
studying other signs that he passes. 

Often the pilgrim comes to a fork in the 
road on which no signs are found! Shall he 
take the path which seems most frequently 
trodden as his guide? How shall he know how 
many have found pitfalls along it? Even 
then he may always turn to that Guide who 
never fails to direct those who will sincerely 
ask Him for guidance; and although the drifts 
may seem deepest and the path more blind, that 
way is the one for him to take, for at its end 
lies his destination. 

We suffer from cold, and stumble in the 
drifts; but there is beauty all about us if we 
will but “ look up and not down.” There may 
be need to help some weaker pilgrim who has 
fallen, and needs you to start into life his frozen 
purposes and numbed conscience. 

It may be that but for our footsteps, made 
aright through persistent struggles, some pil¬ 
grim might have wandered long and aimlessly, 
straying farther from the sheltering Haven 
he seeks. 

Are our footsteps made in the right path? 


BENEATH THE ICE THE RIVER IS 
STILL FLOWING 


How silent and cold and hard the River 
looks! It has retired within itself, and formed 
an impenetrable barrier over its inner life. No 
one may look within, through its cold, icy crust, 
to see the mighty on-flowing of its ceaseless 
current. 

Although to the thoughtless, the River is 
merely “ frozen,” hard, polished, unfeeling 
like a table, to the one who thinks deeper than 
the mere appearance, the River is not frozen! 
It has but encased its life in an impassive ex¬ 
terior; below the surface it is living more 
intensely than before, because of the friction, 
and added burden it must lift with its heaving 
chest, rising and falling with the tide of the 
World. 

The River beneath cannot see the sunshine. 
It cannot feel the caressing touch of the winds 
gliding over its icy surface. It is moved only 
by heavy shocks of wind and storm which vi¬ 
brate through its barrier, but cannot disturb 
its heart far beneath the storms. 

Is it happy thus shut away, though pro¬ 
tected? Would it not rather be open to the 

<29 


so 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


warmth of the sun? Does it not hunger to 
smile lovingly at friends it passes along its 
banks, although it would be also more easily 
tossed by passing winds? 

Perhaps the River has become tired by view¬ 
ing the uncomely sights of teeming city life, 
after having merrily laughed along woodland 
paths. It may be disappointed by unfulfilled 
promises of the days of its brookhood in the 
mountains, and have shut itself away, hiding 
from curious and unappreciative eyes the 
secrets and emotions of its life. 

In so doing it must thus bear its burden 
alone; for its cold, hardened exterior forbids 
passing friends to enter into its daily life. It 
must thus bear the added burden of being 
“ misunderstood ” and “ unappreciated! ” 

Mistaking, therefore, its friends’ inability 
to penetrate to its heart, for lack of affection, 
it hardens its crust still more, and flows on, 
ever more rapidly below it, in seeming peace 
and indifference! 

When at last by the persistent, warming 
influence of kindness, the Sun — the friend of 
all — pierces through this deepening barrier 
of cold reserve, there shows through the rift 
the steady flow of life. Now it is unburdened 
by the lifted weight of reserve, which slowly 
floats away. 

To that warm friend is revealed the secrets 



BENEATH THE ICE 


31 


of many hard struggles against rocks and eddies 
in its course, beneath the calm of the shelter¬ 
ing ice. Ah! How little the world outside 
knows of what is taking place beneath the 
walls of ice! 

Many lives, in this cold, unsympathetic 
world, are building barriers of reserve around 
their inner life. We see but the passive 
exterior. 

“ They are strong, and need no help,” we 
superficially say, but they may be craving the 
light of love which you possess. Will you pass 
on, and so add another grain to the thickening 
barrier? Or will you, by unselfish persistence 
and loving sympathy slowly thaw out a place 
in that reserve, and find, shining brightly 
through it, a heart true and deep, ready to take 
the warmth of love you bring, and to give in 
return an unmeasured depth of life which you 
may never be able to fathom? 

For below the Ice of the World, the Great 
River of Life is still flowing. 


SOWING WHEAT 


“ Lest ye root up the wheat, also.” 

The Keeper of the Fields has given us our 
portion in which to sow wheat. As we scat¬ 
ter the grain there are, mingled with it, seeds 
of tares and weeds which also have power of 
growth, and spring up with the wheat. 

Shall we say, “ Nothing but wheat shall grow 
in my field,” and attempt to pull up the tares? 
If we do, other tares will grow faster than we 
can clear the field, and our wheat will cease to 
grow from lack of care. 

The tender shoots need nourishment. What 
gain is there to the farmer if he exterminate 
forever every noxious weed from his field, and 
yet, by neglecting his wheat, has destroyed all 
promise of reaping a harvest for his Keeper? 

The Keeper does not demand a field kept 
free from weeds, but one “ white unto the har¬ 
vest,”— not to uproot the evil, but to nurture 
the good. 

Good dies without care, and so will the evil 
— when good chokes it by the fullness of its 
growth! Give all your energy to sowing the 

wheat, and raising an abundant crop. Give 

33 


SOWING WHEAT 


33 


less thought to the taresw Then, when the 
harvest of good shall be garnered in, the barns 
shall be filled to bursting with the “ finest of 
the wheat.” Then the tares will be taken away 
by the Lord of the Harvest and the wheat be 
freed forever from the evil influence. 

Let your “ fields be white unto the harvest.” 


GOD’S BENEDICTION 


All day long the service has lasted, with a 
beautiful sermon whose truths have been illus¬ 
trated on every side. Here the wanderer has 
been restored to> the right path. The seeker 
for signs has found wonders greater than any 
of which he ever dreamed; and the skeptic has 
been convinced of the greatness and truth of 
the existence of Him whose omnipotence formed 
the text. 

Not only lessons have been taught, but the 
Nature service has been made joyous by hymns 
of praise from innumerable throats, a service 
in which everyone has joined, no matter how 
small or insignificant the part may have seemed. 
Thus over all rests the Spirit of Him who is 
above all, in Nature’s pulpit. 

Now the service draws to a close. The choir 
of songsters on high is hushed. All is in per¬ 
fect stillness, waiting for the Benediction. 
With bowed heads the leafy congregation stand. 
The sun’s head is bowed lower and lower till it 
sinks from sight behind the altar hill. 

Over the people shines a radiance not seen 

even in the full height of the Sermon itself. 

The blue vault of the holy temple is aglow with 

34 


GOD’S BENEDICTION 


35 


the majesty of the High Priest. Even the 
cloud-arches shine rosy in the flood of light. 

For God is pronouncing His Benediction! 
The service is over. 

From His Hands, uplifted in blessing, the 
glory streams, and the bowed heads of His 
people show dark against the glorified temple 
wall. 

Over all falls a peace whose power can still 
the most tempestuous human will, and which 
sinks deep into the aching heart, hungry for a 
Good, of which it knows not. 

Slowly the High Priest lowers His Hands, 
and, like a rosy veil, the glory sinks. The 
blue shadows of the temple’s vault sink deeper 
and deeper, blending with the receding gold 
as though loath to have it depart. The tender, 
golden green thus formed is the token of the 
union of heaven’s light with earth’s shadows. 

The silent prayer following is softly broken 
by the distant chant of myriads of tiny voices 
in 64 Amen.” As the temple is then slowly 
lighted by one and another of its countless 
sparkling lights, the evening service is be¬ 
gun. Now are sounded the praises of lesser 
members of Nature’s great congregation, 
whose voices are too faint to be heard during 
the day’s service. All are singing hymns to 
the glory of Him who presides over all. 

Then, as the close of the night’s service her- 


36 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


aids the coming of another Day’s lesson truths, 
again God pronounces the Benediction, and in 
the midst of the blessing comes His Sun, the 
Light of Truth. 


GOD’S GOOD-NIGHT 


All day long His children have played in 
His wide, happy nursery. Now Nature calls 
them away from their pleasures to tuck them 
safely away, each in his favorite resting place 
for the night. 

Gently each little voice is hushed to sleep, 
and silence reigns. Then God comes and 
stoops to kiss His sleeping ones, and say, 
44 Good-night.” As He finds them safely hidden 
away from night foes, He slowly leaves the 
sleeping nursery and takes away the ball of 
light. 

He has other children in His great nursery 
who sleep during the day children’s play 
hours, and wake during the night. So God 
calls them when He has taken away the day’s 
light, and gives them tiny silver lights by 
which to see to play. Now and then, on spe¬ 
cial occasions, He gives them a larger silver 
ball of light, like unto the golden ball of the 
day. 

When His night children are tired of their 

play He covers them up snugly in their hidden 

retreats, and saying, 44 Good morning,” He calls 

37 



38 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


the day children. With happy faces they 
arise with the coming light, and with His 
morning kiss on their foreheads. 


THE SUN NEVER SETS 


We say in our poor narrow language that 
the “ sun rises and sets,” though we know full 
well that it is not the sun that changes, but 
the earth that gives this appearance in its 
turning. We say, “ The sun is not shining 
today,” when the clouds are so thick that we 
cannot see its light. Yet the sun itself is not 
affected by earth’s changes. Clouds and Dark¬ 
ness are of earth’s making. The sun is incapa¬ 
ble of causing darkness or of giving cold. Its 
mission is one of light and heat. 

Thus, in our poor, narrow lives we say that 
God, the Giver of all Sunshine, changes, that 
He 66 hides Himself from us ” when we let our 
clouds gather between us and His Light. That 
He “ visits us with iniquity ” when, as a result 
of our turning away from Him our night of 
sin and sorrow falls around us. Not until we 
turn our faces again toward the Giver of Good 
can our Day or Righteousness dawn. Are you 
turning toward His Light? 


39 


THE UNDERTOW 


The mighty wave lifts its head far up above 
the trough at its feet as it rolls in toward the 
cliff, bearing everything less mighty along in 
its path. Nothing seems able to stop its on¬ 
ward career! 

At last it strikes full against the immovable 
cliff and dashes into a spray! Its power is 
broken and it falls back to the ocean. In its 
chagrin it rushes from the scene of its defeat 
to hide its head! The ocean’s great heart, 
however, seeing the battle between shore and 
wave, sends recruits to stay the flight of its 
defeated son. The fresh wave, catching its 
fallen comrade up in its might, bears him back 
to renew the assault! 

The battle seems hopeless, for each new wave 
is only tossed back to be met by reinforce¬ 
ments. The ocean, nevertheless, is untiring, 
and, little by little, its assaults are telling on 
the lofty cliff. It finds a weak crevice against 
which it pours its troops. The space widens, 
only to admit larger forces of the enemy. Un¬ 
til, after ceaseless assaults, the ocean has sep¬ 
arated from the cliff a large portion. This it 

40 


THE UNDERTOW 


41 


hurls with increased destruction on its powerful 
enemy. 

We are a part of that infinite Ocean whose 
waves are battling against the Cliff of Evil. 
Our efforts seem hopeless and unsuccessful in 
our assault. We fall, disheartened, and retreat 
from the field of conflict. 

Behind us, however, is the power of the In¬ 
finite Ocean pressing us forward to renew the 
struggles. We are met by a Force, stronger 
than that of our weak wills, that lifts our tired 
Souls, gives us renewed strength, and bears us 
onward! 

One wave alone could never wear away from 
the cliff that with which the beach is strewn. 
Yet one wave after another, with ceaseless en¬ 
deavor, has removed bits which line the ocean’s 
bed. 

Thus our daily efforts are helping to remove 
little evils from within and from without, and 
are breaking down great barriers of evil. 
Slowly, that barrier God covers from sight 
under the Infinite Ocean of His Goodness. 


“ THE SHADOWS OF THE TREES ” 


“ How filled with sweet remembering is the phrase, 
The shadows of the trees.” 

Robert Burns Wilson 

The tall, strong pines rear their stately 
heads far up into the free air and golden sun¬ 
shine. While the sun rejoices to see their 
efforts to come nearer to him, he also reminds 
them that they are still a part of the earth, 
and sends, stretching out behind them, the 
mysterious shadows of the trees on the 44 good 
green earth.” Not in a somber, chilling gloom, 
lessening the height of their aspiration, but 
gently showing them how far they have already 
climbed. 

Their shadows are like themselves, with deli¬ 
cate tracery of 44 branching columns,” shadows 
that lie behind them while they face the sun. 
It is only when they turn their backs on the 
giver of light that their eyes are filled with 
their own shadows. Beautiful in appearance 
is the tracery; but if it is dwelt upon as merely 
44 dark shadows,” and not as cast by the light 
of the good sun, even the beauty of form dis¬ 
appears, and only the gloom remains. 

The 44 shadows of the trees ”! With the de- 

42 


“ TI-TE SHADOWS OF THE TREES ” 43 


dining sun how they stretch out their long 
slender fingers, creeping slowly along their lov¬ 
ing mother earth, whose arms are held out to 
receive the clinging fingers. 

Mother Earth loves all her children, but her 
tall sons of the pines she loves best of all. So 
steady, so tall, reaching up and out, and deep 
down into her true, warm heart. Tallest, but 
also having the fiercest shocks of Nature to meet 
and resist. Nearest the sun, but also casting 
the longest shadows on the ground below. 

The grasses are content to lift their narrow 
lives but a little distance above earth’s level 
stand, and their shadows are hardly noticeable, 
yet they exist. Their capacity for holding and 
reflecting the light of the sun is slight, and 
their dark side is correspondingly small. 

The grasses bend before the sweeping winds. 
They have no power to resist. Their strength 
lies in yielding. Although their safety is thus 
gained for the moment, what power comes to be 
better fitted for the stronger blasts? 

The pine prepares daily for the shocks of 
life as it grows higher and higher. Each year 
finds it stronger as well as taller, but the “ grass 
is cut down and withereth.” 

Oh! Better to grow like the pine, tall and 
strong to meet life’s battles, though they strain 
our heart’s core, and though the shadows that 
lie at our feet are long and dark! If we have 


44 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


grown in strength, the battle wages harmlessly 
around us, for we are rooted deep and cannot 
be shaken. Better to have the shadows of the 
trees with their breadth and length and inten¬ 
sity than not to lift our heads above the level 
ground and cast no shadow whatever! 

The higher our aspirations — the harder the 
stniggles to reach them. The greater the 
height of success — the longer must be the 
shadows at our feet. Not a desponding 
shadow is it, but one in which to rejoice. For 
without it we would not know or appreciate the 
sunshine into w T hich we have climbed. 

Think, therefore, of the sweetness in the 
phrase, “ The shadows of the trees.” 


IN THE GREAT HEART OF A RED¬ 
WOOD TREE * 

(Santa Cruz, California) 

Wonderfully tall, straight, and of gigantic 
proportions stands the Redwood, five thousand 
years old! What a steady, silent growth 
throughout the centuries when man knew not 
of its being! Each year saw it add a tiny 
ring to its ever widening heart, each year saw 
it add to its straight, upward growth. On¬ 
ward and upward through wind and storm, 
growing slowly, silently, but with a heart and 
root that could stand the passing of centuries! 

At length from the root of this “ great-life- 
of-the-forest ” sprang a younger growth that 
claimed a common root with the monarch, re¬ 
joiced with it in the sunshine, and shared with 
it the storms. A wonderful group was this, 
one noble life going forth from the central 
form into the many smaller ones. 

Thus the centuries rolled by, and, at length, 
the great central tree of this redwood circle, 

* There stands a great circle of trees, in the center 
of which tradition says there once stood a central tree 
of huge diameter. A space in the circle shows where 
the tree broke it in falling. 

45 


46 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


having completed its temporal life, fell from 
its lofty height, breaking down part of the 
circle of younger trees as it fell. The monarch 
had fallen, but the faithful, broken circle of 
redwoods lifted their heads, still thinking of 
their lord. 

As the centuries rolled on, the fallen red¬ 
wood moldered into the rich soil where it had 
once stood, but the circle of trees to which it 
gave life still stood to speak eloquently of that 
mighty tree that grew in their midst. 

In the center of this semi-circle was the 
heart of this great monarch. Let the visitor 
stand in this central point, silently, reverently, 
with closed eyes and spirit opened to breathe 
in this life that was once in the form of a 
tree. That power which gave it life lives on, 
nor dies with the dying wood. Lives on, and 
the spirit of the tree still stands. Still stands, 
and thou art in the very heart of the redwood! 
Canst thou not feel thy spirit unite with that 
of the tree, its rings encircling thee, its roots 
stretching down, down into the rich earth, its 
branches reaching out across the wide space 
toward the circle of its newer life, and its head 
lifted high into the sunshine? 

Standing in the great heart that never dies, 
though the bark may crumble, thou canst feel 
the centuries roll by, and know the power of 
eternity’s endless growth. The outward parts 


HEART OF A REDWOOD TREE 47 


decay and fall, but the Great Heart of Life 
itself cannot cease to be. Out of eternity it 
came, and on into eternity it goes, still growing 
upward and outward in spiritual growth. 

Such is the power of the Soul to grow, for 
its Source had no beginning and no ending. 
The little period of growth while in the out¬ 
ward form is but a part of eternity. When the 
body falls, the spirit lives on, and leaves in 
this world larger or smaller circles of life to 
w r hich it gave more or less of its own, in sep¬ 
arate forms, but a part of the Great Life 
pervading all. In this circle, that which has 
gone still has a share in their life, but it is now 
continuing its power of growth with unlimited 
possibilities. 

The Great Heart of the universe once took 
an outward form, and from that Life is drawn 
the power for growth, large or small, for every 
Soul. 

Hast thou felt the stirring power of Life 
within thee from that Great Heart? 


SWEETNESS AND STRENGTH 


In a jungle there stood trees of tropical 
growth. At their feet and climbing up their 
trunks were shrubs, plants and vines in tropical 
profusion. 

One night the trees and plants had a great 
discussion. 

44 See how strong we are! ” cried the mighty 
trees. “We never bend in the storm. We 
never die! We have been growing here for 
centuries, and you come and go. Some of you 
are choked in the tangle of branches and never 
even ripen your fruit! ” 

44 Yes,” answered the plants. 44 But see 
what sweet flowers we bear! See their glorious 
color and rare fragrance! Without us the 
jungle would be dark and gloomy enough. 
Our fruits, too, are good to eat, and the ani¬ 
mals love us. They would fare ill if we were 
not in the jungle.” 

Just then the aged Sandalwood tree spoke. 

44 Oh, brothers and sisters of the jungle,” 

he said, 44 why argue thus among yourselves P 

You are all drinking in the same dews and 

golden sunshine, and your roots sink deep into 

48 


SWEETNESS AND STRENGTH 49 


the same rich soil of ours. Each chooses that 
which can best add to the growth within, be 
it plant or tree. Each has his own work to 
do. What matter whether it be accomplished 
in the short seasons of the plants’ life, or in 
the longer life of the tree? The jungle has 
need of both. 

44 The sweetness of the flower alone, or the 
strength of the tree alone does not make the 
perfect jungle, for each contributes its own 
store. The flowering plants give of their 
sweetness that the tree may breathe in its 
fragrance. The tree imparts its strength that 
the weak vine may cling and be strong enough 
to lift its head into the sunshine to bear its 
fruit. Both accomplish their mission, for 
neither sweetness nor strength alone can make 
the perfected life. That which is strong must 
grow in sweetness, and that which is sweet must 
grow in strength. 

44 I have lived all these years,” continued 
the Sandalwood, 44 and at first aspired only to 
the strength of the tree. At length as I looked 
down on the flowers at my feet, I thought that 
with all my strength there was yet something 
that I lacked. Did the flowers, so frail, yet so 
sweet, hold the true secret of an ideal life? 
No, that could not be, for their season was 
so short and their fruit soon perished. 

44 1 then looked up at the birds flying with 


50 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


such perfect ease and freedom. Surely they 
must know the true secret of living 1 

44 So I asked a Bird of Paradise, one day, if 
he could tell me the secret of living. 

“ 4 The secret of living? 5 he sang. 4 Why, 
that is to live and grow to the highest and 
best that each is capable of in the place which 
he has been given. The only way to accom¬ 
plish this is just to keep on growing and gain¬ 
ing in some new direction. Never stop, what¬ 
ever happens. Everything that comes has in 
it something to aid in our development. Noth¬ 
ing is really a part of our lives except that 
which aids in our growing. All else, no matter 
how much it may affect us at the time, is really 
outside of us> not a part of us.’ 

44 Then the glorious bird soared high above 
me, and I wondered much about its saying. 
What was I making a part of me as I grew 
from year to year? Was I taking in the best 
that was offered to me in the place in which 
I was given to grow? Why could I not take 
in from soil and air that which made the flowers 
sweet as well as to absorb all that made me 
strong and tall? 

44 Thus, little by little I gathered in qualities 
of sweetness with the flowers and qualities of 
strength with the trees. At length into my 
very heart there came a fragrance that was 
unlike that of any flower and not possessed by 


SWEETNESS AND STRENGTH 


any tree. For it was given by the Great Spirit 
of Life that blessed my efforts to combine 
sweetness with strength.” 

There was a hush in the jungle when the 
Sandalwood had finished speaking. Then the 
Oak made reply,— 

“ The Sandalwood has spoken truly, for he 
has learned the true secret of living. He has 
taken into his life-fiber the best that surrounded 
him, and thus made everlasting the fragrance 
of the flower in the strength of a tree.” 

Are we like the Sandalwood? Have we 
learned how to ingrain into the very heart of 
our being the best that life offers,— not a pass¬ 
ing glory of the physical life, but an eternal 
strength and fragrance of the Soul? Are we 
still growing, or are we content with the height 
merely of the plant life and its weakness? Our 
power of growth is endless! What are we 
making a part of our inner life? Be not con¬ 
tent that good surrounds you, for unless you 
make it a part of your life it is wasted. Seek 
not to gain only strength or sweetness alone, 
for that soul is the noblest which grows steadily 
in both sweetness and strength. 


THE HERO OF THE FOREST 


In the midst of a great forest a tiny sap¬ 
ling was struggling for existence. It stretched 
its tiny roots down into the hard soil and met 
obstacles of every kind to be surmounted; but 
it bravely sought deeper until a spring re¬ 
freshed its drooping spirits. 

Above ground it met greater difficulties of 
wind and storm, of heavy snows weighting it 
down and injuring its tender buds. Still it 
looked up at the tall, straight trees around 
it and longed to be as strong and tall as they; 
it seemed impossible that such a tiny sapling 
could ever reach their height. 

“ Courage,” whispered the South Wind. 
“ They, too, were once as weak as thou art.” 

Thus it struggled, till, one night, nearly 
two thousand years ago, a bright star that 
shone above the glory of the rest, gleamed 
over the forest and seemed to rest on the little 
tree as though in benediction. The radiance 
stirred the tree with a feeling of new life and 
greater power for growth, for the star seemed 
to be drawing it upward. 

The sapling grew and the light of the star 

52 


THE HERO OF THE FOREST 53 


shone out in its life, so that all who entered 
the forest loved the tree with the silver bark. 

All Nature seemed to join in testing the 
strength of the slender trunk. Winter added 
burden after burden of ice and snow, till the 
tree bent its head down to the ground. It 
longed for a glimpse of the star that shone 
that night, but it held fast to the silver ray, 
and patiently bore its load of care, uncomplain¬ 
ing that its comrades stood straight and free. 

The Lord of the Forest saw its heroic en¬ 
durance and that it stood firm under the trial, 
so He gently lifted part of the load. The 
life in the tree slowly, perseveringly lifted its 
head higher and higher into the sunshine, out 
of the shadow, and looked up to thank the 
Lord of the Forest for its deliverance. 

Thus the tree met and overcame each obstacle, 
or endured the burden that it was not able to 
lift. Its frame thus bore the records of the 
strife; yet, twisted and bruised as it was, it 
stretched up and out, less beautiful in form 
than its straighter comrades, yet more beautiful 
in the eyes of the Lord of the Forest. 

One day there entered the forest a man in 
white robes, who seemed to shine amid the dark 
trees. He seemed thoughtful and sad, yet 
walked as one who was searching for something. 

As He lifted His eyes, sweet and tender as 
a woman’s, He saw the tree with the silver 


54 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


bark. His face lighted with a smile. Then 
gently stroking its bruised limbs He said,— 
“Blessed art thou! Well hast thou born thy 
cross in life. Thou shalt be honored above all 
the trees of the world, and in thy death thou 
shalt become the Tree of Life!” 

On its bark He then traced the symbol of 
the cross. 

That night as the tree was wondering about 
the saying, a dark robed figure entered the 
forest, and seeing a tree whose form marred 
the symmetry of the woods, he said: 

“ This tree is fitted to become the cross of 
one who is leading the multitude astray and 
is rightly condemned to die.” 

So saying, he remorselessly laid low the tree. 

As the tree felt its life going, it thought of 
the words,—“ In thy death thou shalt become 

the Tree of Life,” and believed. 

• ••••• 

Again the white-robed figure touched the 
silver tree, then very truly becoming the sym¬ 
bol it bore on its surface. Sadly, but with a 
smile, He lifted the cross and the crowd pressed 
onward. 

Darkness over the land. A voice cried out. 
And all was still. Through the cross there 
passed a quiver — it had become the Tree of 
Life! 

In heaven that day there appeared a beauti- 



THE HERO OF THE FOREST 55 


ful tree with a silver bark, free from blemish, 
tallest and straightest of all. On its surface 
it bore the golden trace of a cross over which 
now appeared a crown. Angels clustered 
around it and cried: 

“ Behold the Tree of Life! ” 

In their midst shone One in white who touched 
the glorified tree and said, 44 Behold the Hero 
of the Forest! ” 


THE AUTUMN OF LIFE 


“ ’Tis Autumn! 

Everything is dying! ” 

We see the leaves fall, the grass turn brown, 
the flowers and tender plants fade and wither 
away. Every sign of summer’s active, fresh 
life is disappearing. No wonder the so-called 
“ melancholy days ” make us say that “ every¬ 
thing is dying.” 

Let us see what happens. Certainly a change 
is taking place, but how is it wrought? 

The tree stands strong and tall, with its 
wide-spread limbs bearing myriads of leaves 
during the summer’s warmth and showers. Ev¬ 
ery leaf is filled with the life of the great tree, 
whose deep, spreading roots in the rich earth 
send nourishment coursing through every inch 
of its structure. 

Each leaf is free to drink in the sunshine 
and moisture to add to the life of the tree. 
Every part of the great whole has its own mis¬ 
sion to fulfill, and the perfect growth of the 
part makes the perfect growth of the whole. 

Autumn comes. The tree has matured its 
fruit, and parted with it, for the new life of the 

future. The leaves have completed their task. 

56 


THE AUTUMN OF LIFE 


57 


The tree no longer needs them. So, from each 
tiny house it withdraws the portion of life that 
had been doing its work through the summer. 
That life which made it a leaf has been with¬ 
drawn from it into the great life of the trunk 
and roots. The passage through which that 
life was wont to flow so freely has been tightly 
sealed — a scar to those who know not that it 
is but a closed door to the life within! 

The leaf falls, but not without the tree’s 
knowledge. That empty shell, the leaf, has 
nothing in common now with the living tree. 
The life of the leaf has become one with that 
of the tree, and the material form which en¬ 
closes that life must needs fall away as soon 
as it becomes useless to the life it held. 

Autumn merely takes away that which has 
no further use. Nature is not “ dying ” but 
66 putting off the corruptible ” to make ready 
for a new life. There is no less life than be¬ 
fore; it is merely because we are not able 
to perceive the existence of the life, because its 
outward manifestation has ceased. 

Death severs the individual life from the 
outward “ house ” in which it has been perform¬ 
ing its work for the Spirit within. Its work 
has been accomplished. The Great Life slowly, 
gently withdraws its vital forces unto Itself; 
and, as the last particle of the life passes 
through the door of earth, the way is sealed. 


58 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


The exit from the earthly house has become the 
entrance to the heavenly life. 

That new embodiment of the little life with 
the Great Whole not even the leaves left on the 
tree may understand. They feel the life still 
flowing through them. They may fancy that 
there is a new element of intimacy in that cur¬ 
rent. Can they surely say, however, “ The 
life that I feel is the life of the leaf which was 
so near me ” ? 

The lives that thus pass from the earthly 
embodiment must be received by the Life from 
which they obtained their being. The more 
nearly the life in the individual existence has 
become one with the Life of the Source, by 
living from that Source, the richer will be the 
new life upon which it is entering. 

Who shall say but that through the degree 
to which we are receptive to this Source of Life, 
we who are left may feel the nearness of the 
new life of the one who has left us? For we 
are drawn closer through our loved one’s nearer 
communion with Him in whom we all “ live and 
move and have our being.” 


THE HARVEST 


Why think of the glorious culmination of 
nature’s summer — the Harvest time — as the 
<fi melancholy days ” ? The trees are bare of 
leaves , ’tis true, the cold winter winds are com¬ 
ing, and the snow will cover up the bare earth. 
Yet this is but the end of Nature’s toil, the 
fulfillment of the spring’s floral promise. The 
flower faded, long ago, but the tiny promise of 
future life has been swelling and ripening into 
mature fruit. Nature has perfected that which 
she saw in maturity while yet in the tiny bud. 
The fruit falls, seeds are scattered in different 
directions, leaves are borne away by the wind 
and the tree is left desolate. 

Desolate? No. For whence the leaf fell 
may be seen the tiny bud which is the life of 
the coming spring. The leaves, as well as the 
fruit, are “ ripe ” for they, too, have completed 
their work. The tree no longer needs them to 
aid the growth of fruit and bud, for these are 
ready for the future promise that each holds. 
The leaves, however, have still a use in the 
great plan of Nature. They cover the seeds 
scattered on the ground and give of their prop¬ 
erties to enrich the soil for growing plants. 

59 


60 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


The flower of Youth is the promise of fruit 
of a “ ripe old age.” Why dread the coming 
of God’s Harvest? Why fear to give unto His 
keeping the fruits of character that we have 
ripened, unless, indeed, we have neglected our 
flowers and so have no fruits for the harvest? 
Truly, then, with falling leaves falls the beauty 
of life itself. What promise shall the buds 
hold? 

The body, like the leaves, falls when its work 
is ended. The Soul has ripened its earthly 
fruits, and its buds of Eternal blossoming life 
are formed to open in the warmth of Heaven’s 
Spring. 

We gather in the bounty of Nature’s com¬ 
pleted work, and call it our harvest. The 
farmer who labored with Nature has also ended 
his work and he has seed ready for spring 
planting. To him, surely, the harvest is “ com¬ 
pleted work.” He cares not that the fields are 
brown and bare, for he holds the promise of 
another harvest of greater abundance. The 
dried corn husks tell of the ripe ears that once 
grew thereon. 

The brown leaves fall to the ground, and to 
the earth are returned the mineral elements 
which they gained from the earth. They are 
not “ dead ” leaves, for they were never really 
“ alive.” They but held the life of the tree 
which worked through them, and which has been 


THE HARVEST 


61 


withdrawn into the tree itself. The leaf is 
not the inner life of the tree, neither is the body 
the inner life of the Soul. The life of the tree 
is within, and we see only its manifestations in 
leaf, bud, flower and fruit. The life of the 
body is within, and we see but the manifesta¬ 
tions of the Soul working through the body. 

When the life of the tree passes from the leaf 
the way by which it passed is sealed. A scar 
tells the tale of the completed work of the leaf, 
but there above the scar is the bud, the future 
life and growth of the tree. 

When the soul passes from the body the 
way through which it passed is sealed. A scar 
is left and we call it “ death.” The seal is set 
on the worn-out body to tell of its completed 
work, and the now useless part that once held 
the life returns to earth. Above the scar of 
death is the bud of eternal life which opens 
not on earth, but in heaven. 

Are you looking for this promise of the 
Soul’s heavenly life,— or at the scar and faded 
leaves? For Life’s Harvest on earth is but 
God’s “ completed work.” 


THE HIDDEN LIFE 


“ God is Life, and He is ‘ All-and-in-All.’ Nothing 
can have life except in Him. That Life, however, is 
always hidden . We never see the Source, but only the 
outward signs of that inward power of growth which 
we call ‘ life.’ Life pervades everything and is ever 
seeking expression. Mother Earth throbs with the hidden 
power which seeks an outlet in the blades of grass, the 
flowers and trees.” 

Dr. Alexander McKenzie. 

The “ Hidden Life ,”—yet we seek to see it! 
It is a power that is deep in the Source from 
which we draw our own life. Nature has roots 
that stretch deep below the surface where they 
fulfill their purpose in drawing nourishment for 
the plant or tree above the ground. No one 
sees these roots, unless the tree be uprooted 
in a storm and then its life passes away. 

Our life has roots, but we wish to shore? that 
we have them. Thus we pull them up from 
their natural depths of earth and so injure the 
life we previously had above the surface. Roots 
were never meant to be spread out in the sun¬ 
shine. Their mission is to stretch wide and 
deep in the rich darkness of the life-giving 

earth, with as intricate a tracery of delicate 

62 


THE HIDDEN LIFE 


63 


branches below as of those drinking in the life 
of the air and sun above. A greater mission 
of life is theirs below, for they search far into 
the endless sources of life. 

The tree sees the stars and aspires to reach 
them. If, in so doing, it neglects to send its 
roots deeper, its strength will soon fade and 
even the possibilities of its former life will be 
lost. 

Fancy a tree saying,—“ I can drink in rain 
through my leaves and absorb enough sunshine 
to nourish my growing buds. Therefore, what 
do I need of roots? They are so delicate and 
the earth is so hard. There are no barriers in 
the air, so I will just grow upward instead of 
putting life below where it cannot be seen! ” 

The tree may stand for a time in calm 
weather, but here comes a storm! Alas for the 
foolish young tree! It has no hidden life for 
a foundation, and at one cruel blast its beautiful 
structure,— which had m> real life in its 
branches — falls! All its hope of life is gone, 
and passers-by see its mass of roots which should 
have done their work below the earth. 

A tree, however, whose strength has been 
exerted in seeking all possible nourishment from 
the hidden sources of life may not always have 
as noble a structure above ground, for it may 
be twisted and bruised by the heavy storms 
raging over it. It, nevertheless, has a sure 



64 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


foundation which cannot be shaken, for it has 
sought and found the hidden life. Have we 
found the Hidden Life below earth’s storms? 


JEWELED RADIANCE OF HEAVEN 


When “ God formed the dry land,” He gave 
into its keeping bits of heaven’s luster to glorify 
the clay in which the jeweled light was hidden. 

Taking tiny rays of each light He gave them 
form and scattered them over the earth’s hard¬ 
ening surface. It closed upon them, making 
their exterior like unto itself. They who would 
find the hidden glory must seek it. 

Shining around the throne is the ruby light 
of Love — the light of the cross. The story 
of the redemption — its passion and suffering, 
but the fathomless depths of God’s Love shines 
out in the blood-red light. None but those who 
are pure in heart can bear to look upon this 
symbol of Love. This light of Love God gave 
in rare bits to the dark earth for which the 
sacrifice was to be made. Treasure the Ruby 
of Love. 

He who finds and lives in that jeweled radi¬ 
ance must bear his cross on earth, yet in it he 
will also find comfort and feel the uplifting 
power of the Light of Love which the shadow 
of the cross lessens. 

Encircling the Life of Heaven, and permeat¬ 
ing all, is the limitless blu£ depth of Truth, with 

65 



66 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


no cloud, save to those whose eyes are still 
dimmed by earth’s doubts. Those who gaze far 
into its depths become filled with the knowledge 
they seek in the light of Truth. It is the 
never-failing light of God’s Wisdom glowing 
throughout all His worlds, but in its undimmed 
glory only in Heaven. 

Gems of this sapphire light God gave in its 
purity that those who seek Truth may look 
far into its clear depths, away from earth’s 
clouds, and, in the light of Wisdom, strengthen 
their faith in the goodness of Him who is the 
Source of Truth. Seek this Sapphire of 
Truth. 

No sun is needed to make the endless day 
of heaven, for the golden light of eternity never 
gives place to darkness. In the world of the 
Spirit there is nothing material to intercept 
this light of Righteousness so that there are 
no shadows of sin. Clear and spotless was the 
pure, golden gem that held this light, for it 
knew no shadow of heaven’s making,— the to¬ 
paz — symbol of Eternity. 

To him who is worthy to bear such an emblem 
Earth’s sorrows will be illumined by the golden 
hope of eternal life, where the darkness of sin 
and sorrow is never seen. Shine in the light of 
Righteousness and bear the topaz emblem. 

Mingling together in heaven’s sky the blue 
light of Truth and the golden light of eternity, 


JEWELED RADIANCE OF HEAVEN 67 


there was formed a union which gave birth to 
the emerald light of Life itself. In this em¬ 
erald light all Nature shines. By this union 
life joins the qualities of both lights. By the 
golden light of Righteousness, life can know no 
end in eternity’s unsullied glory. Through the 
blue depths of Truth, life holds a portion of 
God’s boundless Wisdom. 

In heaven alone the emerald light of Life 
shines clear in field and wood. On earth the 
red light of the Cross mingles with it, dulling 
its brilliancy, and its shadow hides in its hidden 
recesses. Life on earth must ever bear the 
shadow of the cross. Although God gave the 
shadowed light of Life in the Nature world of 
earth, He gave precious jeweled bits of the 
emerald light of Life into the dark earth’s keep¬ 
ing. He who seeks not merely the pleasures 
of the earthly life may find this light, and by 
it may see amid the shadows of life the light 
of Truth and Righteousness uniting in the Life 
eternal. Grow in this emerald light of God’s 
Life. 

To these heavenly lights of Love, Truth, 
Righteousness and Life, God gave a crystalline 
form that they might dwell on the earth — a 
glimpse of the glory of their heavenly existence. 
We therefore bear the symbols in the ruby, sap¬ 
phire, topaz and emerald. 

Then God gave an earthly symbol of Crea- 


68 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


tion which w T as a heavenly light, yet with earth’s 
shadows. 

Taking all the qualities of the emerald light 
of Life, He annulled (from the blue and yel¬ 
low) the gold rays, adding to the blue light 
remaining a portion of the ruby light of Love. 
The shadow of the cross deepened the purple 
emblem thus formed, but it shone in the love 
it held, the love of the Creator. This light of 
Creation signified the earthly life where, by the 
union of truth and love a new life might shine 
forth. Although the union is of heavenly ori¬ 
gin, earth’s shadows must creep in for those 
who find the marriage light. Behold the ame¬ 
thyst ! 

When the shadows flee in the light of 
eternity, the golden light of Righteousness 
again mingles with the ruby light of Love and 
with the blue sapphire depths of Truth. Be¬ 
hold ! The earthly marriage symbol is then 
changed into a heavenly union of spirits. For 
the light of Creation shines forth pure white, 
— in the diamond, the most resplendent of all! 
In its clear depths every light has yielded 
its glory to make the one perfected Light — 
that of the Creator who gave of His Life of 
Love, Truth, Righteousness unto all. 

Thus to earth God gave this glorified 
white light of Creation that souls who mingle 
their lights of Love and of Truth may live in 


JEWELED RADIANCE OF HEAVEN 69 


the glory that comes by the new light of God- 
given powers. Hold sacred the purity of the 
Diamond of Creation. 

They to whom is not granted on earth the 
light of Creation may seek separate glories of 
Love and Truth which, when held together in 
eternity’s light will sparkle forth as the dia¬ 
mond — the gem of heaven. 

Round about the throne of God there shines 
a rainbow “ like unto an emerald ” and verily, 
for it is the circle of Life which has no begin¬ 
ning or ending. There every light shines in its 
place in the one arch, an emblem that heaven 
and earth are one, and that life is eternal. 
For when life passes away from its shadows 
the Light of Life still exists, clear and trans¬ 
parent as when first given to earth. 

For a signet, as Lord of heaven and earth, 
God set the heavenly lights in earth’s shadow. 
In this signet the lights are ever changing, a 
token that the shadows of the earthly life hold 
but portions of the glory of eternity — the 
Opal of Promise. Only he whose eyes are not 
blinded by doubt and fears may find and live 
in this Light of Promise. Art thou worthy to 
bear the Opal of Promise? 

Thus the earth was filled with heavenly col¬ 
ors. The ocean, tossing ceaselessly, could not 
hold such jeweled radiance. God, therefore, 
loving its breaking waves, shed His lights over 


70 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


its surface where they shine forth, reflecting 
the glory that rests on the Sea of Life. Deep 
in the heart of the restless ocean God gathered 
the colors, embedded a symbol of Peace, that 
out of suffering should grow the Pearl of Sal¬ 
vation —“ of great price.” Art thou brave 
enough to bear the Pearl of Great Price? 

He who bore his load in the light of heaven 
should thus find his burden transformed into a 
wonderful, soft, white light, less dazzling than 
the diamond gem of heaven, but far more pre¬ 
cious in the eyes of Him through whose suffer¬ 
ing the Pearl-of-Great-Price was given. 

Great is this symbol, for it stands at the en¬ 
trance to Heaven, that they who enter the 
“ Gates of Pearl ” may know that they are re¬ 
turning Home. Through the gates they pass 
on to give back to their loving Father the jew¬ 
eled radiance, now in a spiritual form, which 
they have gathered during their stay on earth. 
According as they have found and lived in His 
Light on earth will each be able to behold the 
glories of heaven, and grow through the powers 
each possesses. 

Are you gathering jeweled radiance of 
heaven ? 


FATE 


GOD’S FORE-KNOWLEDGE OF EVENTS 

We abuse the term fate in our misconcep¬ 
tions of its meaning. 

“ Men insult their destinies and call it fate.” 
By their own disobedience of God’s laws, calam¬ 
ity comes upon them, and they call it fate. 

What is fate? Are we bound by it so that 
we have no freedom of will or action or choice? 

God made man in His own image, with like 
possibilities of power. He did not create a 
slave. He created a free man! He did not 
create any two alike, or place any two in like 
conditions; each being He created free to 
develop the powers within him. 

God knoweth all things. Past, present and 
future are alike to Him. He plants the acorn 
and even then He can see the full grown oak 
of the forest. He knows that from that acorn 
nothing but an oak can grow. The “ des¬ 
tiny ” of that acorn is the oak. Its “ fate ” de¬ 
pends on conditions while growing. But the 
fact that it must be an oak and not a pine 
doesn’t limit in the least the power of growth 

which the life of the acorn possesses. 

71 


72 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


God knows before the acorn sprouts just 
what storms will rage through the forest, and 
just how the mighty oak, or young sapling 
will stand the strain. He knows what rocks 
the tender roots must meet, in their spreading 
underground. He did not put the rocks there 
to test the strength of the young oak. Know¬ 
ing, however, that it would find them in its life, 
He gave them power to overturn the lesser 
obstacles, or surround the larger, and go on its 
way. 

Fate, then, is God’s fore-knowledge of events 
to happen. It is not a definite line of action 
planned out for each life that enters the world. 
Each has a mission which is his destiny. There 
is not an ordering of life that enslaves the free¬ 
dom nor lessens God-given powers of choice 
and freedom of will to act. Out of all He 
will bring good. 

We have a “ destiny to fulfill , but a fate to 

MASTER.” 


THE SUN CHARIOT OF THE IMAGINA¬ 
TION 


In the days of Greek lore, Phaeton, a man, 
was described as trying to drive Apollo’s sun 
chariot. In the hands of the sun god, the 
horses were under perfect control, and the sun 
in its course blessed the earth with light, and 
steady heat. In the hands of the man, however, 
the horses, driving furiously, plunged so near 
the earth that everything was scorched by the 
heat! 

Are not our imaginations like unto the horses 
of Apollo’s sun chariot? In the hands of the 
God of Good they run their day’s race in 
majesty, blessing all with the treasures they 
carry. Yet let the man pervert his powers for 
good and let evil usurp the reins, and destruc¬ 
tion and death follow, as the steeds of the imag¬ 
ination dash madly from their height in the 
heavens toward the powers of darkness! 
Nothing can check their downward plunge, or 
shield from the scorching passion all that feels 
their heated breath. The driver also will per¬ 
ish in the descent, unless he gains control of the 
forces within him. 

Let the man, however, realize that he is in- 

73 


74 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


capable of ruling his imagination alone, and 
deliver its guiding into the hands of the God of 
Good. Then the rightful course will again be 
resumed, and the chariot will glide smoothly on 
its way. 

The steeds of the imagination are not bound 
by limitations of earth. They are far above its 
din and dust, not touching heaven, but at times 
catching glimpses of its glory, which they re¬ 
flect back to earth below. 

The chariot is not always seen by earth. 
When prosaic cares and everyday duties gather, 
they hide the light of the imagination and life 
is monotonous and gray. We are chained to 
the earth, and cannot rise in the chariot above 
cold, intellectual rounds of thought. We can¬ 
not bask in the warmth of pleasures past. We 
are self-centered, and live only in the gray pres¬ 
ent. We do not rise in the chariot to look back¬ 
ward over the past and look forward through 
the mist of fancy to the joys of the future. 

We may fill our chariot full of the graces and 
joys we pass in our daily flight through space. 
If, in our eagerness, we pluck thorns and weeds 
with the flowers, we may cast them from us, 
ere they bring us pain or choke the flowers’ 
beauty. Seeds of evil left in the chariot may 
take root. These, like saprophytes, may feed 
upon the life of the good shoots, till the chariot 
ceases to be a fit seat for the God of Good. 


SUN CHARIOT OF IMAGINATION 75 


Evil draws it downward, and the man becomes 
a wreck, as he drives from Good towards Evil. 

From time to time in its course, the chariot 
may catch seeds dropped from Heaven’s way- 
side. If these are tended carefully, they will 
flourish, bearing more seeds, till the fragrance 
is wafted to earth and all receive the blessings 
of the gifts of Good. 

How are you driving your sun chariot? 


IN THE GARDEN OF GOD 


We are like children in the garden of God. 
He has given us permission to gather flowers 
for Him. Some have thorns which bruise the 
hand! These He has asked us to leave un¬ 
picked ; not in order to deprive us of the pleas¬ 
ure of their beauty or fragrance, but to keep 
us from being harmed by the thorns. 

Shall we be satisfied to gather a beautiful 
bouquet of the thornless flowers for our Mas¬ 
ter’s throne? Or shall we refuse to pick those 
that we may, because what seem fairest and 
largest are forbidden to us? 

Perchance by disobediently plucking that 
thorn we maim our hands, so that they will be 
incapable of gathering even the tiniest flower 
for Him. Thus we would have nothing to show 
when he asks us what we have brought for Him 
from out His wide “ Garden of Flowers.” 

Or shall we, when we have so many beautiful 
flowers to choose from, pluck only the weeds 
for our bouquet to give Him? There must 
needs be a few weeds, for they grow so close to 
the thickly clustered flowers that we gather 
them while grasping the flowers. The Master 

of the Garden does not ask us to leave the 

76 


IN THE GARDEN OF GOD 


77 


weeds out of our offering. If we stopped to 
separate the weeds, the flowers might fade be¬ 
fore we could gather them. Thus again our 
offering would be small. 

Let us therefore gather the flowers that lie 
nearest at hand, even though they be small and 
apparently insignificant, for they may be the 
very ones that the Master loves best. The larg¬ 
est ones may seem more brilliant in coloring, 
but they may not be as fragrant, or as lasting. 

Let us not continually pass by these tiny flow¬ 
ers, seeking for larger ones, else we may fail 
to find those for which we seek; and, reaching 
the throne, empty-handed, the Master will be 
disappointed in us and shall send us elsewhere 
to pick more humble flowers. When, however, 
we are able to appreciate these lesser glories, 
we may be allowed to gather those for which we 
sought. 

It is only by gathering the lesser joys that 
we can learn to appreciate the greater which lie 
beyond our reach at the moment. 


REFLECTIONS — GOD’S MIRROR 

“He holds the waters in the hollow of His Hand” 

God gave us a material world to enjoy — one 
filled with beauty of form and color; but in it 
man has built unsightly structures, which, 
though necessary to his use, mar the delicate 
beauty of Nature’s form. 

God has given us His Crystal Mirror, which 
He 44 holds in the hollow of His Hand ” and 
catches on its clear surface and melts into soft¬ 
ness and added beauty all that looks into its 
pure, tranquil depths. There, even jagged 
rocks lose their sharpness, while spires and tall 
edifices mingle in harmony with soft masses of 
trees. All defects are made beautiful by rip¬ 
pling irregularity of form, as sky and earth 
seem blended in one plane. A touch dispels it! 

God lets us use His Mirror only when we 
keep it free from the worries and tempests of 
evil which ruffle its surface and deface the vi¬ 
sion. Even then, though it is veiled to our eyes, 
“ His sight is never dimmed ” by earth’s com¬ 
motion. To us alone the Mirror is a blank. 

It depends only on us whether we will look 

at the beauty in God’s Mirror. We must be 

78 


REFLECTIONS — GOD’S MIRROR 79 


willing to stand close by His side where we 
can look deep into the “ Hollow of His Hand,” 
for if we stand afar off behind barriers we won¬ 
der that the light does not shine through. Nor 
must we try to examine the particles of earth 
lying on its surface, for the vision vanishes. 

To us, the world made more beautiful in 
God’s Mirror, is inverted. To Him, everything 
is in its right position. He sees things as they 
are. We see them as we interpret them. What 
to us seems awry, because we cannot look at 
it with God’s wisdom, is fulfilling its mission on 
earth in a heavenly way. We judge from 
“ earth’s level stand.” He “ from heaven’s 
height.” We “ see but a part.” He views the 
“ whole design.” 

God uses the Mirror to reflect the light he has 
given man that Souls that sit in darkness may 
be gladdened by its radiance. After the day’s 
hot toil comes the calm of the evening peace, 
and in life’s sky shines the glow of deeds of 
kindness, battles fought and won. These 
illumine the Mirror and gladden the Father’s 
heart as He looks. 

Over the distant waters is reflected the spire 
of aspiration which stretches farther and far¬ 
ther away from the commonplace things on 
earth’s shore, and melts away at the feet of 
God. 

Then appear the distant lights of love — 


80 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


streaming out over the Mirror. Each a tiny 
glow in itself, but in God’s Hand reflected far 
over the dark waters. Beacons of hope are 
they in the harbor of heaven. Many Souls on 
life’s ocean of strife, seeing, shall take heart 
again, and steer toward their promise of heaven 
near. While above the voyagers there gradu¬ 
ally appear the Star friends, who smile down 
lovingly upon them in their efforts. The light 
of the friends’ trust is a golden pathway over 
which the pilgrims glide, fearing lest they for¬ 
feit the trust, but strengthened to dare in life’s 
conflicts. 

Thus the day dies; yet all that has found 
peace and beauty by resting on God’s Mirror 
sinks deep into the crystal depths, and He closes 
His Hand over it. There He keeps it safely 
until the dawning of a new day of peace, when, 
as He slowly opens the hollow of His hand, the 
Mirror shines forth afresh, ready to receive new 
beauties and spread afar the glory of Nature’s 
God. 


EVIL SEEDS AND GOOD GROUND 


In the wide world there are many little plots 
of ground, some in cold regions, others in warm, 
some in moist climates, others in dry. Each 
plot of ground is fitted to fulfill its own mis¬ 
sion according to the conditions under which it 
is placed. 

Flying through the air are many kinds of 
seeds blown from the form of life which gave 
them maturity. Each kind is seeking a plot of 
ground best suited to its special needs, that it 
may develop into a life similar to that of the 
parent from whence it came. Some seeds seek 
a warm climate, and moist land. Others will 
grow in sterile land with little of the luxuries 
that most seeds demand. Thus seeds may fall 
to the ground, but if it is unfit for their 
growth, they come to naught. 

So also in the moral plots of ground. Each 
of us is preparing the soil of character that is 
best fitted to receive the seeds which we desire 
to have grow in it. We prepare our plot for 
seeds of good, and many of those flying past 
will alight and find fertile soil. As the flowers 
grow, our eyes will be gladdened by the beauty 

we are able to share with passers-by. 

81 


8 % 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


With the seeds of virtue fly also seeds of 
evil — of wrong thought, word and deed. They 
darken the air in their course! Our plot seems 
about to be choked with the evil dust, while the 
flowers fade and droop from lack of sunshine 
that evil hides. 

As we are about to faint from the evil, the 
wind of heaven, sweeping down with a mighty 
gust, drives the dust storm before it. Lo! the 
air is pure and clear once more. 

Thank God for His mighty Wind! 

Quietly the seeds of evil come. Some 
dropped thoughtlessly by a passing traveler, 
who picked them on his journey afar. The 
seed sinks into the soft earth under his foot! 
It is there deeply buried! No wind can blow it 
away! The sensitive, impressionable earth 
feels the sharp edge and sharper roots as the 
seed seeks to develop the germ within it. The 
earth trembles with the mighty effort to push 
out the evil seed. What will become of its flow¬ 
ers of good if this thorn springs up and chokes 
them! With an imploring look to heaven for 
help, the relief comes! Down comes the rain 
of heaven; and the evil seed is washed out, and 
carried away in the torrent of pure water! 

Thank God for His Rain! 

The plot of ground, saturated with moisture, 
is found by a seed of evil which demands the 
rain to quench its burning throat. Swiftly it 


EVIL SEEDS AND GOOD GROUND 83 


sends down its long, tap root into the soft, rich 
earth. 

Again the little plot seems powerless to resist 
the growth of the unwelcome seed. This soil 
that has been so carefully enriched for its 
flowers of good. Was it for this kind of seed 
that its efforts were uselessly made? 

The Sun, looking down, sees the troublesome 
plant, now quite high above ground. Know¬ 
ing that the plot of ground was not willingly 
harboring such a plant, it sends its rays beat¬ 
ing down fiercely upon the weed. Unable to 
bear the burning heat of righteousness, the 
shoot, root and all, withers away. 

Thank God for His Sun! 

In every plot of ground unwelcome seeds of 
some kind find space in which to grow — seeds 
which neither wind nor rain nor sun can destroy. 
These, too, must grow with the flowers of good 
till the harvest time. When the Lord of the 
Harvest comes to gather in the seed of good for 
further growth in his heavenly fields, He leaves 
the evil seeds to die. 

As long as we keep our plot of ground fer¬ 
tile, seeds of good must prosper in it. Evil 
seeds thrive best in sterile, stony ground where 
good seeds cannot live. Although lesser seeds 
of evil may grow in the earth with the flowers 
of virtue, we may never fear as long as we 
have God’s Spiritual Wind, Rain and Sun. 


THE SOUL’S MAGNETISM * 


Deep within the magnet lies a wonderful 
power that is not of its own making. It is 
not a quality of the ore which holds the power. 
Other metals which are just as perfect as far 
as the material construction is concerned have 
not this quality which the magnet possesses. 
Whence then comes this power which cannot be 
seen and can be felt only by certain kinds of 
material? 

Nature holds the secret deep in her heart, 
and gives this mysterious power of attraction 
to such of the material world as seek it and are 
able to hold it. 

Seek it and hold it. These are the conditions 
Nature requires of those who would know her 
secret. The magnet has sought and won its 
right to hold it, but having won the power, how 
can it be preserved? 

Clinging to the ends of the horseshoe magnet 
is an ordinary piece of steel. If you pull it 
away a short distance the magnet draws it back 
to itself. Forth from the magnet goes the in- 

* A magnet loses its power unless a small piece of 
steel is kept on the magnet to be attracted to it. 

84 


THE SOUL’S MAGNETISM 


85 


visible power of attraction within it which irre¬ 
sistibly draws the other to it. 

Take the companion piece away. What will 
happen then to the magnet’s power? It is still 
putting forth its power of attraction, on and 
on into empty space. There is nothing which it 
can find to hold; and, as its efforts are continu¬ 
ally fruitless, it gradually loses that power 
within it which depends on holding that which 
it seeks. At last, when the companion returns, 
it finds the magnet’s power exhausted. It can 
no more be held as before. The magnet has 
become powerless, as helpless a piece of metal 
as the other! It has lost its right to Nature’s 
power by ceasing to hold another by it, and it 
can only be regained by going back to the 
source in Nature and then holding fast that 
which it attracts, be it large or small. 

The Soul has a power to attract which also 
is not of its own making, nor is it a part of the 
body in which the Soul dwells. The external 
form in which the power abides may not differ 
in perfection from the form which lacks it. 
The Soul’s magnetism comes from a Source 
greater than that of the Magnet’s power, and 
is given yet more freely. God holds the secret, 
and to those who “ seek and hold ” it is granted, 
this wonderful drawing power of the Soul. 

To each Soul coming from God is given a 
slight portion of His pWer “which allies it to 


86 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


the great Source. The Soul must seek for 
added power if it wishes to> attract more. 
Then, gaining it by coming close to that Source, 
it feels the incoming tide coursing through it. 
What a wonderful feeling of power the Soul 
has thus gained! Yet how may it keep the 
power ? 

By holding another by it, just as the magnet 
does. Near by is a poor neglected being, ap¬ 
parently devoid of qualities to attract. Shall 
the Soul pass it by, seeking a more beautiful 
companion-being? While it waits, the Soul’s 
power is still going forth, seeking that which it 
may hold, and the Soul will lose its power unless 
it is used! 

Therefore, hold this poor creature. For in 
the exercise of the Soul’s magnetism, that which 
clings to it becomes filled with the strength and 
glory which the Soul possesses; till the com¬ 
panion Soul no longer seems devoid of attrac¬ 
tion, for it has become able to hold others 
through its union with the magnetic soul. 

While the magnet gives it also increases its 
power, for it is strengthened by holding others. 
Its power is increased by means of each com¬ 
panion wdiom it attracts and holds. For each, 
when it departs, carries with it a part of the 
greater magnet’s power which it may exercise 
w r ith others whom it shall find. Magnetism 
grows by contact. 


THE SOUL’S MAGNETISM 


87 


The magnet attracts. The power goes forth 
from it and all within its scope, which are capa¬ 
ble of feeling it, are drawn to it. 

The Soul’s power also goes forth. Its in¬ 
fluence is felt and whether consciously or not 
draws other Souls unto itself. When they 
come, the Soul must exercise its power of hold¬ 
ing. For if those that come are allowed to 
fall away, the Soul’s magnetism is weakened and 
the ability to exert influence in other lives is 
lost. 

44 Why do you cling to me? ” asked the mag¬ 
net of a small bit of steel. 

44 Because you drew me,” it replied. 44 You 
were so strong and I so weak, that when I felt 
your power drawing me, I just came, I knew 
not why. You will not send me away? If I 
might stay with you I am sure I could grow 
stronger — more like you.” 

44 Your clinging is precious to me,” said the 
good magnet, holding it closely. 44 The power 
which was given to me from the Great Source 
of Power, I will share with thee according to 
thy capacity for receiving it.” 

And the bond of magnetic friendship between 
them grew. 

With all to whom the magnet imparts its 
power there exists a union even though the 
material forms be separated. The power of at¬ 
traction is not bound by material bonds, but 


88 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


goes forth seeking that which it will. The two 
attracting forces may meet even though the 
distance existing between the material forms 
is too great to allow them to be drawn together. 

Thus, when separated, the stretching out of 
the bit of steel for the magnet’s power was 
felt even by the great magnet. When at last 
they came together, the greater power said: 

“ You have seemed specially near me lately 
— I wonder why ? ” 

“ It must have been because your wide-reach- 
ing power of attraction drew my groping need 
of you,” the lesser replied. 

God, the Great Source of the Soul’s Mag¬ 
netism, draws all unto Himself. Each Soul 
that responds to the call is filled with wondrous 
power by which it may draw countless others 
unto itself and point the way to the Source of 
its own power. 

Thus, throughout the World, great Souls are 
constantly seeking and increasing their power 
of magnetism of character by drawing from 
the Great Source. As they gain the power they 
keep it by holding others. Thus they impart 
in friendship’s magnetic touch the blessing of 
that which they have gained,— a power for 
righteousness. 


SELF-ABASEMENT AND SELF- 
CONCEIT 


Both self-abasement and self-conceit take dis¬ 
torted views of the relation of self to its en¬ 
vironment. 

Self-conceit views the accomplishments of self 
through the small end of the telescope. Self- 
abasement looks through the large end. 

Self-conceit exaggerates the importance and 
ability of self. Self-abasement depreciates the 
real value of the gifts God has given. 

Conceit holds self so near the eye that the 
Soul cannot see the great world’s glory be¬ 
hind it. 

Self-abasement puts self so far in the back¬ 
ground that the Soul cannot see the true possi¬ 
bilities of power it possesses. 

Conceit fails to achieve greatness by falsely 
believing that self has already gained greater 
things than it really has accomplished. 

Self-abasement fails to achieve the height of 
the possibilities within, because it underesti¬ 
mates the powers self possesses. 

One who is conceited is unfair to his friends, 
who misjudge his real abilities under the false 

rose mask he assumes before them. 

89 


90 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


One who abases himself continually, is un¬ 
fair to his friends who, seeing the true value 
of his powers, are continually turned aside as 
being “ too partial.” 

Either extreme is a form of selfishness in 
that it is too conscious of self. 

Modesty is the half-way station between the 
extremes. Modesty looks self squarely in the 
face, sees its failings honestly, takes with a 
thankful heart the gifts God has given to use 
for Him, and ceases to decry them for fear 
he overestimate himself before others. 

Kind friends who have not traveled the same 
road, and so do not know the pitfalls and 
stumblijig-blocks along the way, may pass a 
judgment that we, who know ourselves, may 
think is too lenient. Then it should be ac¬ 
cepted in the spirit in which they give it. We 
should not lessen our friends’ enjoyment of the 
standard of excellence at which they value us 
by holding up that which we believe to be our 
real standard. Such friendly over-estimation 
need never cause conceit. It should rather stim¬ 
ulate the receiver to 1 strive to raise the work 
to the level at which the friend places it. If 
we aim at the stars and fall short we need not 
debase the result. For “ not failure but low 
aim is crime.” Whatever we may accomplish 
of good is not ours, but the Lord’s for all good 
cometh from Him. We need never be conceited 


SELF-ABASEMENT — CONCEIT 91 


over what is not our own to praise. Neither 
need we abase that which was intrusted to us 
as a talent to use for Him. Accept the one, 
five or ten talents with a grateful heart, and 
pray to be enabled to use it without pride, and 
without debasing it by hiding it in a napkin! 
Till we say, “ Lo, here is thme own! ” 


THE GIFTS OF THE TALENTS 


“ To one the Lord gave ten talents, to an¬ 
other five, to another two, to another one,” 
says the parable. 

The talents were given. They did not belong 
to the servants because they had earned them 
by labor, but were given them by their Lord 
to be made good use of for him while He was 
absent. 

It was no credit to him who received the 
ten talents, that he had more than the others. 
It was not of his own exertion that he became 
the possessor. He had no cause for feeling 
exalted above his fellows, but merely cause for 
thankfulness. 

And straightway he showed his thankfulness 
by adding as much to his Lord’s money as he 
had received from Him. If the servant had 
added one less than he was really able to add 
he would not have shown enough gratitude. 
The Lord commended his faithful servant on 
his return. 

In like manner did the others,— except the 
last,— show their appreciation of the talents 
given them. 

He who had received but one talent was dis- 

92 


THE GIFTS OF THE TALENTS 93 


appointed that he had not been given more, 
and knowing that the master expected much, 
was not grateful for the small chance given him 
to work for his Lord, so hid the talent for safe 
keeping. He was not expected to do more than 
he was able to do, but he refused to do as much 
as he was capable of doing with what he had. 
So the Lord justly deprived him of that which 
he had proven himself unworthy to receive. 

The giving of that one talent to him who 
had ten was not to commend him for gaining 
ten other talents. It was merely an additional 
trust given to him to improve in like manner 
for his Lord, and with the extra talent came 
the additional responsibility. 

He who had received the one talent was un¬ 
faithful to his trust. What would the Lord 
have said to him who received the ten talents 
if he had been as faithless? Much was given 
to him; much was also expected of him — and 
he proved worthy. 

Each of us has been given talents according 
as the Lord saw fit to endow us. If we have 
received little, we are not expected to gain ten 
talents with our one. If we have been given 
much we are expected to gain more than one 
talent with our two. 

If the world sees that we are using the tal¬ 
ents given us to gain others, shall we become self- 
approving? The talents we have are not our 


94 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


own, but were given us as a trust. We are but 
serving our Master by adding to His gift. 
Should we take the world’s praises to ourselves 
instead of giving them to the rightful One, we 
mingle dross with our gold, and hinder the work 
of making other pure talents. Our eyes become 
blinded by the world’s false glitter and we fail 
in our trust. Our Lord, sifting the false from 
the true will then say, “ I gave unto you ten 
talents. You have added unto them but five.” 
And great will be the grief of the faithless 
steward. 

Count your talents carefully. Look in 
every corner of the napkin — for one may be 
hiding there which you must use. Take your 
talents into the world, for it is there only that 
you can use them to the best advantage in 
making other talents. Be not proud in pos¬ 
sessing them, for they are not yours, but a 
trust from thy Lord. When He shall call thee 
to render unto Him His own, and give an ac¬ 
count of thy stewardship, He may then receive 
the talents which through tears and painful ef¬ 
fort thou hast added. Happy shalt thou be to 
hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful 
servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” 


THANK YOU, OLD YEAR 


The old year is going. Will you let him 
go without a word of thanks for all that he 
has left with you? He can linger but a short 
time longer. You would treat no other friend 
as coldly. You cannot urge him to 44 come 
again.” You can but say, 44 I thank you. 

44 Thank you for the new friends you have 
brought. Thank you for the love and faith¬ 
fulness of the old friends; for the strength with 
which much work has been accomplished; and 
the inspiration and courage given to undertake 
a new work. 

44 Thank you for the happy hours so freely 
bestowed; for rest and recreation; for deeds 
of kindness and usefulness wrought; for 
thoughts of greater clearness to speak the 
Truth, God-given. 

44 Thank you for bitter struggles for mas¬ 
tery, by which strength and power of expres¬ 
sion have come; for the patient instruction of 
those who have led us along our way; for words 
of encouragement when all seemed dark. 

44 And most we thank you for our home and 
its ties kept unbroken through another loving 
year. 


95 


96 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


“ As you pass over the threshold, Old Year, 
and the step that takes you out brings a New 
Year in to us, speak a word to him that he 
may hold your memory dear, and increase unto 
us the blessings which you have bestowed upon 
us during your ministry. 

“ Once more, Old Year, we thank you.” 


WELCOME, NEW YEAR 


The clock strikes one in its series of the mid¬ 
night hour. We hear the last footstep of the 
Old Year, echoing in the long hall of time. 

If the clock should withhold the rest of its 
message from us the hall would indeed be empty 
and dreary on earth. It is but in heaven — 
where the hall broadens out into limitless space 

— that there ceases to be time and place. 

We listen for the approaching footsteps of 
the New Year. Surely he is coming — but it 
seems so long! Slowly comes the second stroke 
and the door keeper in the hall of time an¬ 
nounces the coming of the New Year. Alas! 
It is in the same monotonous tone of voice with 
which he had given the parting word to the 
Old Year just gone — forever ! 

Three,— four,— five,— six ! Lo! the coming 
guest is half way through the heavy swinging 
doors. Seven,— eight,— nine! He takes 
three steps and stops to look about him. Ten, 

— eleven, he stands face to face with the watch¬ 
ers for his coming. Will he speak to them? 

— Twelve! 

A cheer rises from those who are gathered to- 
and Nineteen-is royally welcomed. 



97 



98 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


He stands before them with his arms piled high 
with — what? For a thin veil is spread over 
all, and only the form of promise can be dis¬ 
cerned. 

Silently he withdraws the veil. The people 
watch with breathless interest. 44 Is it good or 
ill that he holds for me? ” thinks each watcher. 

The veil drops, and there in his arms lie tiny 
packages. What do they contain ? 

Silently, still, Nineteen-takes a hand¬ 

ful of these tiny mysteries and scatters them 
through the air. Then another and another 
till his arms are empty, and the air is filled with 
flying dust. At a single word the tiny pack¬ 
ages settle, each falling to the rightful receiver, 
and on opening, each person finds fifty-two tiny 
seeds. 

Nineteen-speaks to the people and says, 

44 I have given you each fifty-two seeds, one for 
each week of the year that I am to be with you. 
These you are to plant in the circumstances 
where you abide, and care for the shoots as they 
appear, each in its appointed time. 

44 Each plant will put forth roots of min¬ 
utes, leaves of hours and flowers of days — 
which will bear seeds of time — if rightly cared 
for. These seeds you may store for sowing in 
Eternity. I will move among you, watching 
the use or abuse you make of the priceless gifts 
of time which I have bestowed upon you.” 




WELCOME, NEW YEAR 


99 


As he ceases to speak each goes his way, and 
plants the seeds he has received, each hoping 
that they may bring forth harvests of joy, pros¬ 
perity, health, and, best of all, love. 

In what kind of soil have you planted your 
seeds? What care are you giving them? Are 
you carefully storing the seeds as they ripen? 
As one plant matures, are you prepared to tend 
the new seed which is rapidly growing? If so, 
then as we are called to receive our life seeds 
from the hand of God, instead of from His 
yearly messengers, we may have a goodly store 
of profitable seeds. These we shall give into 
the storehouse of eternity — where only the 
perfect seeds are allowed to stay, and be sowed 
with the heavenly seeds in eternity’s fertile soil. 


THE SENSITIVE VASE 


Tall and slender and fair it stands. The 
slender stem widening above to receive the gifts 
of fragrance it was designed to hold, and be¬ 
low, to give support to its graceful form. Deli¬ 
cately wrought is it with a wondrous design, and 
with rainbow tints mingled throughout the per¬ 
fect whole. “A work of art!” we exclaim. 
Surely the Maker excelled in His craft, and we 
look in wonder at its beauty. 

Near it may stand vases of less grace of 
form, simple design and less delicate material. 
Yet, opening their wide cups to receive the of¬ 
ferings for which they were fitted, they, too, 
are fulfilling their purpose in being. 

Carefully we take up the delicate vase, fear¬ 
ful lest we crush it in our hands, and set it 
down gently that it be not injured by the jar, 
or fall from its slender base. Those, however, 
of more solid form and material, knowing they 
do not need as great care, we move from place 
to place, perhaps more freely and thoughtlessly. 

Perhaps one who knows not the delicate struc¬ 
ture of the slender vase, carelessly sets it down. 
Poor little sensitive vase! It feels the shock 

in every grain of its structure and quivers from 

100 


THE SENSITIVE VASE 


101 


rim to standard. Deal more gently, stranger, 
for your rough hand was never meant to touch 
material of such sensitive nature. Well may 
you feel alarmed lest the shock show injury on 
the outside. And, since your eyes cannot de¬ 
tect a flaw you say, “No harm done.” Little 
you know what the shock may have been to the 
sensitive vase because of its very nature. 

Knowing the great need for careful handling, 
the maker set such a high price on his creation 
that none but those whose love for, and appre¬ 
ciation of its beauty might be able to possess 
it. It could never exist in the ruder, common¬ 
place modes of life. Thus it graces the homes 
of beauty, receiving floral gifts which it holds, 
and sends forth again in beauty and fragrance 
to bless those who come within its sphere. 

Knowing, however, that similar utensils are 
needed in the humble modes of life, the Maker 
fashions vases suited to the uses to which they 
will be subjected — made them strong to resist 
the knocks and wear of everyday life. These, 
too, homely and solid though they be, are still 
fulfilling their purpose in being. 

The ways of the world are hard; and, 
whether by accident or carelessness, the sensi¬ 
tive vase receives a shock from which it can 
not rally. In its very heart there shows a deli¬ 
cate line to tell of the severity of the shock, 
but it stands up bravely still. 


102 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


Ah! Redouble your care lest the wounded 
vase fall and be shattered by your carelessness. 
Is it not enough that it has been so cruelly 
treated — though he through whom the deed 
was done be bitterly repentant! Nothing can 
restore it now! Yet, beware lest you be the 
cause of its final destruction. 

God is the Maker of His human vases of char¬ 
acter. To some He has given exquisite beauty 
of form and character. To others He has 
given simplicity of design, but of wonderful 
coloring. Many He has made to be of com¬ 
mon use in the world’s needs — strong and un¬ 
pretentious. Each has a need to> meet, and 
each He has sent to its proper place in the 
world. 

Are you of the less ornate class and yet wish 
to be like the sensitive vase of great beauty? 

You do not realize the cost of what you de¬ 
sire. Now you go on with your work, without 
fear of injury from common knocks of life. 
Less gifted are you in your qualities perhaps, 
yet loved by those whose needs you supply. 
Would you willingly forego this simple life and 
your own qualities of usefulness to enter upon 
the life of the delicate vase? You admire its 
beauty, but of its inward vibrations you know 
nothing. It is able to give more pleasure be¬ 
cause of its special portion bestowed upon it; 
but because of its very structure that which 



THE SENSITIVE VASE 


103 


gives you pleasure gives the greatest sensitive¬ 
ness to the vase itself. It is tall and slender. 
It must therefore not be overweighted lest it fall. 
It is of thin, transparent glass. It must be 
carefully used lest it be crushed. The beauty 
and careful usage go hand in hand. 

Poor little sensitive vase! So easily vibrat¬ 
ing to the slightest shock from without. You 
are fitted for heavenly usage. Your mission is 
one of the most gentle and most loving. Great 
gifts have been wrought into your being by the 
All-Wise Maker. He knew the value of the 
utensil He was giving the world, but knew also 
its frailty. And, sending it forth, He gave its 
keeping into loving, tender hands, that it might 
be kept safely until it was ready to be sent out 
for the use for which He made it. 

Happy, sensitive vase! Thank God for the 
care which guards you. And, when the shocks 
of usage come, feel the protecting fingers of 
thy Maker still holding thee as when He first 
gave thee form. Although thy slender form 
shall feel more keenly both the gentle touch and 
the rude, yet because of that very sensitiveness 
which causes thee pain, there lies within thy 
frailty the possibilities of greater glory in ful¬ 
filling thy destiny. 


FEAR —THE WEAPON OF EVIL 


“ Fear makes cowards of us all.” 

So it is in the animal world. Every crea¬ 
ture, great and small, has some enemy that it 
fears, some other creature which it knows is 
stronger or which has a more deadly weapon 
than it possesses. 

The serpent is feared in all the jungle, by 
reason of its deadly sting. The larger beast 
preys upon the weaker and each is constantly 
on guard against a foe. 

Fear is the weapon by which the foe con¬ 
quers. The bird is said to be “ charmed ” by 
the serpent, but it is really petrified by fear. 
The bird has wings with which to escape if it 
chooses, yet the sight of the enemy and its 
poisonous dart — which means death — causes 
such fear that the victim forgets that it has 
wings l 

Evil is perverted good. Evil chooses fear 

for its weapon, and hopes so to terrify good 

by approaching darts of evil that good shall 

forget that it has wings of trust. As long as 

good 44 fears no evil ” but trusts , it has power 

to conquer all evil. It can never be harmed. 

Just as soon as we fear the approach of an 

104 


FEAR — THE WEAPON OF EVIL 105 


evil we disarm ourselves and give the enemy just 
so much more power to work us harm with the 
very evil that we fear. 

Good is always stronger than evil, and trust 
greater than fear. All the strength and ad¬ 
vantage lies on the side of good — as long as 
it holds its weapons firmly and ignores the foe. 
As soon, however, as good loses its trust in its 
ability to overcome, fear disarms and evil con¬ 
quers. 

Let good ever say, “ I am stronger. I can 
conquer the evil that besets me, and I shall 
4 fear no evil, for Thou art with me.’ ” 

An animal will not attack a man who has 
absolutely no fear of it. That is the secret 
of the lion tamer’s power. Evil cannot defeat 
a man who is strong in good, and therefore he 
has no cause to fear evil. 


THE SOUL’S BATTLES 


The soul has its battles when everything 
seems at peace without. Deep within us the 
conflict is raging. Shall the Soul win, or shall 
its temporal enemies conquer? 

The Soul is assailed first by one form of 
evil — perverted good — then another, each 
striving to pin it to earth that it may not soar 
to escape them. It wearies with the struggles, 
and fain would leave the battle ground to fight 
the battle on the morrow “ when it is stronger.” 

If, nevertheless, it flies a truce today will it 
be stronger tomorrow? The memory of the 
enemy’s strength yesterday will sap its energies 
for today. You admit to yourself that the 
enemy is a strong one, and by so doing you give 
it increased power over you. That enemy is 
sure to recognize your fear of its strength and 
will press onward with greater force. Each 
victory weakens the soul’s energies till it falls 
exhausted, at the mercy of fear! 

The battle is going hard! It seems dark 

and the soul is being overpowered. Never give 

over even one battle to the enemy. Look up! 

Reinforcements are always in sight — if the 

Soul will but look for them. Heavenly help is 

106 


THE SOUL’S BATTLES 


107 


always stronger than all the powers of per¬ 
verted good. Forget the existence of the foe, 
and by keeping the reinforcements in sight, the 
Soul may win its victory without striking a 
blow; for in the light of good the dark hosts 
of evil can never stand! 

The battle is won for today, so the Soul may 
rest and become refreshed by the reinforce¬ 
ments of God’s host. Peace may follow, but 
the enemy is still abroad, and the Soul must be 
gaining strength for renewed struggles. Each 
victory leaves it stronger to resist the next, and 
lengthens the times of peace — which are the 
periods of growth and prosperity of the Soul. 
Till, when the King shall call His warrior home, 
the record of battles fought by the Soul may 
count a greater number of victories than de¬ 
feats. Then shall the warrior be given the 
“ crown of life ” which God giveth to those vic¬ 
torious in meeting temptation. 

“ And there shall be no more strife,” for in 
heaven the hosts of good have overcome for¬ 
ever the hosts of evil; but on earth they must 
still be allowed to attack hosts of good, that 
the warriors of God may win many victories for 
their King. 


44 BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART ” 


44 For they shall see God.” 

It is with the heart of our being that we see, 
more truly than with the eyes. The organ of 
the eyes catches only the light radiated from 
the surface of the world. It is the inner eye 
of the spirit that sees below the surface and 
catches the truth. 

God is Truth and Love. The eye that would 
see God must be able to discern Truth and 
Love that never lies superficially on the surface 
of His world. 

Truth may be discerned only by the inward 
eye which comes to the 44 pure in heart.” He 
who uses the pure inward eye is 44 whole ” in 
heart. For we interpret the world to be what 
we are ourselves. If we would see God we must 
seek Good and Truth in His world. No one 
but he who is 44 whole,” pure in heart, can see 
Him who is Purity. 

He who is 44 pure in heart shall see God ” 

on earth — not merely wait till he gets to 

heaven! The blessing does not add see Him 

44 in heaven.” The 44 pure in heart shall see 

God ” in everything! He who is evil in heart 

108 



“THE PURE IN HEART” 


109 


will just as surely see evil in everything! He 
interprets the world as evil because he himself 
has perverted the good God gave him. He 
cannot see any good because his “ eye is evil.” 
He cannot see any more than he himself is! If 
he wishes to see more beauty he must have 
beauty within. He must have music in his 
heart if he wishes sounds to be harmony rather 
than discord, else the grandest symphony ever 
written will be as nothing to him. 

If we wish to “ see God ” we must have more 
of Him in our hearts. If evil is there it hides 
God from the eye of Truth within, and God 
will remain invisible as long as we keep the 
dark screen before the light. It cannot shine 
through. 

To the “ pure in heart ” God’s goodness and 
Truth will always be visible to the Soul, for no 
evil is present to hide it. 

How can we remove the barriers within us ? 

Not by trying to push the barriers away by 
our own strength. That could never be ac¬ 
complished. It can only be done by pouring 
in more light of Love which is always stronger 
than the darkness of evil. The incoming 
strength of Love must thus drive the darkening 
barriers before it. Darkness can never exist 
in the overpowering presence of light. 

Thus by the help of that Love which “ think- 
eth no evil ” the heart will become purified. 


110 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


God’s goodness will become visible to the in¬ 
ward eye, and the greatest blessing of all will 
come unto him who thus 44 sees God ” because 
44 he is pure in heart.” 


GOD’S IN HIS EARTH 


“ God’s in His heaven, all’s right with the 
world,” sings the poet. 

God is not only “ in His heaven , but also in 
His earth .” Therefore, “ all’s well,” because it 
is heaven where He is! 

“ In Him we live and move and have our be¬ 
ing.” For God is Life. Nothing can live that 
does not partake of that Life. 

Thus God lives in His Earth. He manifests 
Himself to us in every form of living plant or 
creature. He is not the form in which the life 
is embodied; but in order that the world might 
be filled with life of air, wood, field, earth and 
water, He created forms appropriate for the 
place in which His Life should dwell. Thus 
we, poor mortals, call the forms of bird, of in¬ 
sect, tree or flower, the Life itself. 

Life can never be destroyed. Life is growth. 
The God-Life manifests Itself in different ways, 
according to the form in which it exists, and 
the degree of Life the form possesses. 

In the tree the Life is rooted deep to con¬ 
form to the limitations and needs of the tree- 

form. In the bird it is free to soar or abide on 

111 


112 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


the earth. In the fish it must confine itself to 
the habitation of the sea. 

In man, however, the Life reaches its great¬ 
est possibilities of manifestation according as, 
apart from the limitations of the flesh-form, 
the man allows the power of Life to move him. 

To man is given the power to realize his vital 
oneness with the Source of the Life that is in 
him. Part of that Life must needs meet the 
uses and necessities of the body in which it 
dwells. The individual life is not the body. 
The life is only tied by the limitations of the 
body. Thus the more man realizes that his 
body is but the means of manifesting the Life 
that is within, not the condition of Life itself, 
the nearer he comes to freeing the Life from its 
fetters and rising to the God-powers in that 
Life. 

“ In Him we live and move and have our be¬ 
ing.” “ In Him,” not outside of Him. Not 
a separate life, but an inclusive life. He knows 
our thoughts, because it is through Him that 
we have our power of thought. Just as a drop 
of water in the ocean feels the motion of the 
waves because it is part of that great body of 
water in ceaseless motion. 

We have the power to absorb more of the 
God-like powers of the God-mind in which 
ours is enclosed — if we but will it. We, how¬ 
ever, take the God-substance which we call life, 


GOD’S IN HIS EARTH 


113 


and bind around it much of that which is 
earthly. Thus we hardly know that the life we 
live is a tiny part of the God-mind — Life, 
Love, Truth. 

Yet no matter how filled with earth the pow¬ 
ers we possess may become, there still exists 
within us that possibility for becoming God¬ 
like — because of His Being that is in us, which 
He gives to each of His children. 

Thus, since each of us is a part of the God- 
mind, we can become more a part of each other. 
The bodies, in which we are separated from 
each other’s lives here, cannot separate us when 
we seek communion through the Great Life in 
God Himself. 

And, as we interchange thoughts more and 
more often in the Heavenly Mind, the bodily 
bounds are less and less binding, and we may 
“ think into our friend’s mind ” because we 
think our thoughts through God’s channel. 
And we are all one. 


KNOTS IN LIFE’S THREAD 


God holds the beginning and end of life’s 
thread, but the rest He has let us hold in cus¬ 
tody for Him. Many times we are too hasty 
and our thread becomes snarled. Shall we try 
to straighten it out by pulling on the knot? 
The harder and more impatiently we pull, the 
harder and more impossible to undo will be¬ 
come the knot! The thread is too strong to 
break. By worrying over it the strands may 
become roughened and even broken, thus weak¬ 
ening the whole thread! Patient endeavor only 
may accomplish it. 

Perhaps by someone else’s careless touch our 
thread becomes knotted. It seems hard to bear. 
We try to untie the knot, but although it may 
loosen we cannot undo it all. It mars a long 
distance of clear, strong thread! Why be dis¬ 
mayed? That knot was not of your making — 
God saw how it was made — so if He under¬ 
stands, what matters what the cold world may 
say! 

The thread is not in our own keeping! How 
thankful we should be! He who holds both 
ends will surely be able to untie every knot —* 

however hard — when He relieves us of the 

114 


KNOTS IN LIFE’S THREAD 115 


custody in this world where knots must come. 
Our hands slide over the knotted thread with 
shame and penitence. This one came through 
hasty words, this through disobedience, this 
through distrust. Our misdeeds overwhelm us 
and we ask forgiveness. Lovingly the Mas¬ 
ter’s hand slides over life’s thread and at His 
touch each one disappears. Sweetly His voice 
sounds, “ Thy sins are forgiven thee, go and 
sin no more.” 

In the heart of every knot lies a lesson. If 
we give up despairingly without trying to untie 
it, we will miss that which lies hidden. The knot 
will be left large and ragged and the knots will 
grow more frequent and less easy to untie. 
What shall the Master say when all these les¬ 
sons fall unheeded back into His Hand that 
gave them? He does not make the knot , but 
when it comes He puts the lesson in its center 
for us to find. 

That knot which you are even now strug¬ 
gling with may hold for you the greatest help 
of your life. It resists your most patient ef¬ 
fort? Never mind! Do not give it up till you 
have grasped even the smallest part of that 
lesson. Hold that, and when you look back 
you may find that the little that you gained 
from that knot, and the next, and the next, has 
helped you to clear the thread of a knot greater 
than any you have yet had! Do not grieve 


116 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


because your thread is filled with knots not of 
your own making. It may be that your 
thread is more beautiful in God’s sight than 
one given back to Him with scarcely any rough 
places. Your thread shows patience, persever¬ 
ance and all the fruits of the spirit which came 
through the lessons carefully searched for in the 
many knots of trial. And you will enter on 
the care of eternity’s thread at the point where 
you loosed your hold of it in Time’s knotty 
hand, with greater strength and power to 
beautify it. 

Therefore, accept with joy the knots that 
come through trial. Search diligently for the 
Truth which lies hidden, for in God’s good 
time He will remove all traces of knots that 
have come in life’s thread. 


“ FATHER, WE THANK THEE ” 


“ For the fruit upon the tree, 

For the birds that sing of Thee, 

For the earth in beauty dressed, 

Father, mother and the rest; 

For Thy precious, loving care, 

For Thy bounty ev’ry where, 

Father, we thank Thee.” 

And also, Father, we thank Thee for sep¬ 
aration from loved ones by which has come 
greater union. For difficulties given to be over¬ 
come, by which has come strength. For soli¬ 
tary living which has made the love of friends 
felt more deeply. For that friend, who, by 
Thy goodness, didst open a new door — the 
door of wider opportunity. For talents, few 
or many, by which to become Thy missionary to 
Thy little children through those who lead them. 
For the confidence — hard won — in my pow¬ 
ers by which I may have courage to tread new 
paths toward that goal which is too far and 
great to be seen while still in the woods. For 
inward temptations which call to self-control. 
For victories over self, and even for defeats 

which strengthen or bruise. For that strong 

117 


118 


MOSAICS OF TRUTH 


calling for a work which I can but feel, little by 
little. 

Give me strength to follow wherever Thou 
dost point the path, however thorny. For it 
has been the very thorns, that, in the past, have 
broken the earth, preparing the way for the 
flowers. The strength which comes in over¬ 
coming these made it possible for the flowers to 
bloom. Nay, but for the effort needed to press 
through the hard earth the plant would not have 
been strong enough to put forth even its first 
leaves. How then could it have developed far 
enough to mature a bud — that blessed prom¬ 
ise of the flower to come — and in its maturity 
to bring forth the perfect fruit! 

Sweet is the companionship of the parent 
tree to the growing sapling,— protecting the 
shelter of its wide branches from the burning 
rays of the sun and pelting storms and fierce 
winds. Sweet to look up at its strong boughs 
and through to the very top of its straight 
trunk! 

Ah, yes, little sapling, it is very sweet, but 
how can you ever grow to be as strong and tall 
when thus sheltered? In His great wisdom and 
kindness the Keeper of the Forest has sep¬ 
arated this close companionship. Art thou 
lonely, little sapling? He is sorry. But lis¬ 
ten ! Though she is distant, thou canst still 
hear the whispering of the wind in thy parent’s 


“ FATHER, WE THANK THEE ” 119 


branches. It is the same wind that stirs thine 
own slender twigs. She is distant, but thou 
art growing, yes, even stronger and taller be¬ 
cause of the separation. Thou canst now meas¬ 
ure thine own strength in time of storm, each 
victory finding thy heart’s core firmer for the 
next struggle. At length thou shalt find thy¬ 
self no longer a slender, swaying sapling, but 
a tall forest tree, spreading thy branches wide 
in invitation to Nature’s guests. Nor knowest 
thou what greater work thou mayest accom¬ 
plish— in the hands of the Keeper of the For¬ 
est. Even perchance in sacrificing thine own 
life for that glorious end! 

Life is sweet, sapling, but it must also be 
hard to endure. Strength, sapling, grow 
strong to fulfill thy purpose in living. What¬ 
ever be the struggle, life is worth all it costs! 
Aye, all it costs — even unto the calling of the 
cross. For in the cross comes the greatest 
blessing of all — Life eternal! 

And for all , “ Father, we thank Thee.” 





















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